GEOLOGY

Detailed explanation-1: -As trees grow, they take in carbon from the air and store it in wood, plant matter, and in the soil, making them what scientists call “carbon sinks.” In this way, forests play an important role in the global carbon cycle by soaking up lots of carbon dioxide that would otherwise live in the atmosphere.

Detailed explanation-2: -According to the Arbor Day Foundation, in one year a mature tree will absorb more than 48 pounds of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and release oxygen in exchange.

Detailed explanation-3: -Forests as carbon sources and carbon sinks A forest is considered to be a carbon source if it releases more carbon than it absorbs. Forest carbon is released when trees burn or when they decay after dying (as a result of old age or of fire, insect attack or other disturbance).

Detailed explanation-4: -Carbon dioxide Sinks-Oceans Carbon dioxide readily dissolves in water and the oceans provide a huge reservoir of carbon. Across the world’s oceans there is a continual cycle of equilibration of dissolved carbon dioxide in water with carbon dioxide in the atmosphere.

Detailed explanation-5: -In its lifetime, a teak tree with a girth of 10-30 cm can absorb 3.70 lakh tonnes of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. AHMEDABAD: Teak has the highest capacity for carbon sequestration among trees in India.