6.2 - Biological processes sequestering carbon

    Subdecks (2)

    Cards (11)

    • Carbon sequestration
      • Removal and storage of carbon from the atmosphere, usually in oceans and forest soils
      • E.g. carbon capture
      • Compressed CO2 is injected into porous rock formations
    • Mangrove forests

      • Sequester 1.5 metric tonnes of carbon per hectare every year
      • Soils contain high levels of carbon - over 10%
      • Grow quickly and absorb large amounts of carbon
      • Soils are anaerobic, meaning little of the carbon is respired back into the environment by microbes
      • Trapped plant matter decays, adding to carbon store
      • Clearing for shrimp farms releases carbon back into atmosphere
    • Tundras

      • Much of the soil in tundra biomes is permanently frozen and contains ancient carbon
      • Microbe activity is only present on the surface when it thaws, the rest of the time the roots and dead and decayed organic matter is frozen
    • Tropical forests
      • Tropical forests are huge carbon sinks, but can disappear quickly
      • Carbon is mainly stored in trees, plant litter and dead wood
      • Soils are thin and lack nutrients as decomposing litter is absorbed by vegetation
      • Tropical rainforests absorb more atmospheric CO2 than any other terrestrial biome, accounting for 30% of global net primary production, although they cover just 17% of the world's surface