Forests are known for their fantastic ability to lock carbon away, absorbing 7.6 billion tonnes of CO2 every year. But are they more effective carbon sinks than the ocean?
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Coastal and marine habitats like coral reefs, mangroves, and seagrass meadows are all known as “blue carbon” ecosystems because they are so good as sequestering carbon. Living organisms also store carbon in their bodies, locking it way on the seafloor when they die and their carcasses sink.
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A single whale can capture as much carbon as thousands of trees but animals don’t have to be huge to have an impact. Each year tiny crustaceans called krill capture 20 million tonnes of carbon while plankton lock away 50 billion tonnes.
Scientists think that the ocean absorbs 30 percent of the world’s carbon.
Absorbing carbon makes the waters more acidic. This lower pH level makes it more difficult for hard shelled organisms to maintain their protective exoskeleton. Researchers have even found that the shells of sea butterflies can dissolve in more acidic waters.
Although some bioengineering projects are trying to find new ways of capturing carbon, the best way to protect the planet from global warming is by reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
