Carbon Sequestration

Synonyms

Carbon capture; Carbon storage

Definition

Carbon sequestration is the process by which atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO₂), the most important greenhouse gas, is removed from the atmosphere and stored in the ocean, on the land surface, or in geological formations (Sundquist et al., 2008). Reservoirs that store carbon over long periods of time are called “carbon sinks.” The process of carbon sequestration can occur naturally by plants via photosynthesis with subsequent storage of carbon in biomass (leaves, roots, and stems/trunks of plants) and soils. Carbon can also be sequestered by separating and capturing CO₂ emitted by industrial processes and transporting it to deep underground geological formations for permanent storage (Lal, 2008). Carbon sequestration is reported as a rate of carbon (C) storage in units of mass per time such as teragrams (Tg = 1 × 10¹² g) C/year.

Cross-references

• Saltmarshes