The concept of 'blue carbon' refers to the carbon captured by the world's oceanic and coastal ecosystems, particularly mangroves, salt marshes, and seagrasses. Unlike terrestrial forests, which store carbon primarily in biomass, these marine habitats sequester carbon predominantly in their sediments, where it can remain for millennia. Recent research highlights that although these ecosystems cover less than 2% of the ocean floor, they account for approximately 50% of the carbon buried in marine sediments. This remarkable efficiency has led to growing interest in their conservation as a climate mitigation strategy. However, scientists caution that when these habitats are degraded or destroyed, the stored carbon is released back into the atmosphere, turning them from carbon sinks into carbon sources. Therefore, protecting blue carbon ecosystems is not merely an environmental issue but a critical component of global climate policy.
❓ 根据文章所述,为什么蓝碳生态系统被认为对气候缓解尤为重要?
A. A) 它们主要将碳储存在地上生物量中,与森林类似。
B. B) 它们覆盖了海底的广阔区域,因此捕获了大量的碳。
C. C) 尽管它们面积不大,却能在沉积物中长时间封存碳。
D. D)它们在降解时迅速释放储存的碳,这有助于平衡大气中的碳水平。
✅ 正确答案
C) They sequester carbon in sediments for very long periods, despite their small area.