Answer:
The cryosphere, which includes ice and snow on Earth's surface, plays an important role in the carbon cycle. Here are some ways in which the cryosphere can absorb carbon:
Snow and ice can directly absorb atmospheric carbon through air-snow/ice gas exchange. Carbon dioxide and other gases dissolve in snow and ice, storing carbon for lengthy periods of time. Dissolved carbon can enter rivers and oceans when snow and ice melt. Carbon can be transported and deposited in marine sediments. Permanentfrost, frozen soil and organic debris, can release carbon dioxide and methane into the atmosphere when temperatures rise. Phytoplankton can thrive from sea ice nutrients. After photosynthesis, these tiny plants' carbon can be carried to the ocean floor and stored in
Sources
- Alley, R. B., Spencer, M. K., & Anandakrishnan, S. (2010). Ice-sheet and sea-level changes. Science, 328(5985), 598-599.
- Grosse, G., Goetz, S., McGuire, A. D., Romanovsky, V. E., & Euskirchen, E. S. (2016). Changes in Arctic terrestrial carbon storage and fluxes in response to warming. Nature Climate Change, 6(7), 624-627.