Carbon sinkA carbon sink is a natural or artificial carbon sequestration process that "removes a greenhouse gas, an aerosol or a precursor of a greenhouse gas from the atmosphere". These sinks form an important part of the natural carbon cycle. An overarching term is carbon pool, which is all the places where carbon on Earth can be, i.e. the atmosphere, oceans, soil, florae, fossil fuel reservoirs and so forth.
Carbon farmingCarbon farming is a set of agricultural methods that aim to store carbon in the soil and biomass. The technical term for this is carbon sequestration. The overall goal of carbon farming is to create a net loss of carbon from the atmosphere. This is done by increasing the rate at which carbon is sequestered into soil and plant material. The increase of biomass from roots and the soil's microbiome leads to an increase in the organic matter content of the soil.
Carbon capture and storageProcess of capturing and storing carbon dioxide from industrial flue gasWith CCS, carbon dioxide is captured from a point source, such as an ethanol refinery. It is usually transported via pipelines and then either used to extract oil or stored in a dedicated geologic formation.
Climate change mitigationActions to reduce net greenhouse gas emissions to limit climate changeVarious aspects of climate change mitigation: Renewable energy (solar and wind power) in England, electrified public transport in France, a reforestation project in Haiti to remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, and an example of a plant-based mealClimate change mitigation, also called decarbonisation, is an action to limit the greenhouse gases in the atmosphere that cause climate change.
Carbon sequestrationStoring carbon in a carbon pool Geologic and biologic carbon sequestration of excess carbon dioxide in the atmosphere emitted by human activitiesCarbon sequestration is a natural process of storing carbon in a carbon pool. It plays a crucial role in effectively managing the global carbon cycle and limiting climate change by reducing the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere.
Carbon cycleNatural processes of carbon exchange Carbon cycle schematic showing the movement of carbon between land, atmosphere, and oceans in billions of tons (gigatons) per year. Yellow numbers are natural fluxes, red are human contributions, and white are stored carbon.
Ocean fertilizationOcean fertilization or ocean nourishment refers to both natural and intentional processes that replenish iron and other nutrients in the upper ocean, which in turn stimulate the growth of phytoplankton and in some circumstances draw down large amounts of carbon dioxide (CO2) through photosynthesis.
Carbon dioxide in the atmosphere of EarthAtmospheric constituent and greenhouse gasAtmospheric CO2 concentration measured at Mauna Loa Observatory in Hawaii from 1958 to 2023 (also called the Keeling Curve). The rise in CO2 over that time period is clearly visible. The concentration is expressed as μmole per mole, or ppm.In the atmosphere of Earth, carbon dioxide (CO2) is a trace gas that plays an integral part in the greenhouse effect, carbon cycle, photosynthesis, and oceanic carbon cycle.
WildfireUncontrolled fire in forests or open spacesWildfire burning in the Kaibab National Forest, Arizona, United States, in 2020. The Mangum Fire burned more than 70,000 acres (280 km) of forest.A wildfire, forest fire, brushfire or a bushfire is an unplanned and uncontrolled fire in an area of combustiblevegetation. Some natural forest ecosystems depend on wildfire. Modern forest management often engages in prescribed burns to mitigate fire risk and promote natural forest cycles.
CarbonateA carbonate is a salt of carbonic acid (H2CO3), characterized by the presence of the carbonate ion, a polyatomic ion with the formula CO3. The word "carbonate" may also refer to a carbonate ester, an organic compound containing the carbonate groupO=C(−O−)2.
AtmosphereAn atmosphere is a layer of gases that envelop an astronomical object, held in place by the gravity of the object. The name originates from Ancient Greek (atmós)'vapour, steam' and (sphaîra)'sphere'. An object acquires most of its atmosphere during its primordial epoch, either by accretion of matter or by outgassing of volatiles.
Kelp forestUnderwater areas highly dense with kelpKelp forestKelp forests are underwater areas with a high density of kelp, which covers a large part of the world's coastlines. Smaller areas of anchored kelp are called kelp beds. They are recognized as one of the most productive and dynamic ecosystems on Earth. Although algal kelp forest combined with coral reefs only cover 0.1% of Earth's total surface, they account for 0.9% of global primary productivity.girthRelated word or term.*As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.