What are carbon sinks?
Human activity is not only producing more CO2, but is also severely damaging the ability of the earth to absorb carbon – via its carbon sinks – the forests and oceanic plankton. Growing forests absorb CO2. Massive worldwide forest destruction results in much fewer trees to soak up CO2, and releases the stored CO2 from the trees into the atmosphere. Similarly, the destruction of the ozone layer by human-made chemicals, such as CFCs, is allowing increased levels of harmful UV-B radiation to reach the surface of the earth. Increased levels of UV-B radiation could reduce the density of plankton in the oceans. Since plankton are the primary carbon sink of the planet, reduction in their density could result in less CO2 being absorbed from the atmosphere.
• “Sinks” are reservoirs that remove carbon dioxide (CO2) from the atmosphere and store it, sometimes by converting it to another compound. The two largest natural sinks for CO2 are the oceans and terrestrial vegetation, including forests. For example, forests remove CO2 from the atmosphere during photosynthesis, storing that carbon in their tissues. Keeping forests intact instead of cutting them down can prevent CO2 from being released and expanding forests can enhance removal of CO2 from the atmosphere. The Kyoto Protocol recognizes the preservation and enhancement of certain kinds of sinks and allows these to be counted as part of a country’s efforts to meet its target.
