Definition
Carbon sink in an area that stores carbon from the atmosphere for a long period of time. It stores more carbon than it releases. #BiologyDefinitions
- AKA carbon reservoir
- Carbon sinks remove carbon dioxide from atmosphere
Oceans as Carbon Sinks
- Largest carbon sinks on earth
- 1/3 of released by human activities → absorbed by oceans
Role of oceans as carbon sinks → driven by 2 processes:
- Solubility
- Photosynthesis
→ that dissolves in ocean’s water → absorbed and used by aquatic plants in photosynthesis. Portion of carbon compounds found in oceans → buried in seabed → is in form of fossil fuels → such as natural gas and oil.
Forests as Carbon Sinks
Important carbon sinks
Atmospheric → absorbed by plants and used in photosynthesis Forests → large amounts of carbon compounds → stored in trees.
- Trees die → remains may be buried deep in ground After millions of years → these remains form coal → type of fossil fuel. {forests absorb about 20% of all carbon dioxide by burning of fossil fuels}
Indiscriminate deforestation → negative effect
- Forest management is hence → important
Note
glucose produced during P is used and converted to cellulose, starch and other compounds (amino acids, proteins) → which contain large amt of carbon. these carbon compounds are stored in trees and plants, and collected. thus trees and plants act as carbon sinks → removing Co2 from atmosphere