Prelims 2021 · Environment · Question 19
What is blue carbon?
Answer
Carbon captured by oceans and coastal ecosystems
- (a) Carbon captured by oceans and coastal ecosystems — Correct. Blue carbon refers to carbon captured and stored by marine and coastal ecosystems such as mangroves, salt marshes and seagrasses.
- (b) Carbon sequestered in forest biomass and agricultural soils — Incorrect. This is generally classified under terrestrial/green carbon, not blue carbon.
- (c) Carbon contained in petroleum and natural gas — Incorrect. This is fossil carbon, stored in geological formations.
- (d) Carbon present in atmosphere — Incorrect. Atmospheric carbon exists mainly as CO2 and methane, but it is not called blue carbon.
Answer: (a)