Question

Where are carbon sinks (places that store carbon) found in the Earth?

a) Only in plants in the biosphere
b) Only in the atmosphere as a gas
c) Carbon is stored in all 4 of Earth’s spheres.
d) Only in the deep ocean, the biggest carbon sink of all
e) Only in the lithosphere (upper part of the geosphere) as fossil fuels

Please select the option that correctly identifies the locations of carbon sinks on Earth.

Answer 1

Carbon sinks (places that store carbon) are found in the atmosphere, bodies of liquid water, ocean sediment, soil, and fossil fuels.

Step-by-step explanation:

Carbon sinks, which are places that store carbon, can be found in multiple locations on Earth. These include:

• The atmosphere: The atmosphere is a major reservoir of carbon, primarily in the form of carbon dioxide (CO2).
• Bodies of liquid water: Mostly in the oceans, carbon is stored in the form of dissolved CO2 or as bicarbonate ions (HCO3-).
• Ocean sediment: Carbon can also be stored in the sediments of the ocean floor.
• Soil: On land, carbon is stored in soil as organic carbon from the decomposition of organisms or weathering of rocks and minerals.
• Fossil fuels: Deeper in the lithosphere, fossil fuels like coal, oil, and natural gas are stores of carbon.