Carbon Sink

A carbon sink is a natural or artificial reservoir that accumulates and stores some carbon-containing chemical compound for an indefinite period. The process by which carbon sinks remove carbon dioxide (CO₂) from the atmosphere is known as carbon sequestration. Public awareness of the significance of CO₂ sinks has grown since passage of the Kyoto Protocol, which promotes their use as a form of carbon offset.

The main natural sinks are:

• Absorption of carbon dioxide by the oceans via physicochemical and biological processes
• Photosynthesis by terrestrial plants

Natural sinks are typically much larger than artificial sinks. The main artificial sinks are:

• Landfills
• Carbon capture and storage proposals

Carbon sources include:

• Fires (by combustion)
• Farmland (by animal respiration); there are proposals for improvements in farming practices to reverse this.