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.
❓ Según el pasaje, ¿por qué se considera que los ecosistemas de carbono azul son particularmente importantes para la mitigación del clima?
A. Almacenan carbono principalmente en su biomasa aérea, similar a los bosques.
B. B) Cubren una gran parte del fondo oceánico y, por lo tanto, capturan vastas cantidades de carbono.
C. C) Secuestran carbono en los sedimentos durante períodos muy largos, a pesar de su pequeña extensión.
D. D) Liberan carbono almacenado rápidamente al degradarse, lo que ayuda a equilibrar los niveles atmosféricos.
✅ 正确答案
C) They sequester carbon in sediments for very long periods, despite their small area.
IELTS Reading Tips
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Watch for paraphrasing; correct answers are often reworded
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