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.
❓ 文章によると、ブルーカーボン生態系が気候変動の緩和にとって特に重要と考えられる理由は何ですか?
A. A) 彼らは主に地上部のバイオマスに炭素を貯蔵しており、森林と似ている。
B. B) それらは海底の広大な範囲を覆っており、そのため大量の炭素を捕捉している。
C. C) それらは面積が小さいにもかかわらず、非常に長期間にわたって炭素を堆積物中に隔離する。
D. D)それらは分解されると蓄積された炭素を急速に放出し、それが大気中の濃度バランスを保つのに役立つ。
✅ 正确答案
C) They sequester carbon in sediments for very long periods, despite their small area.
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