UPSC Previous Year Question | Prelims GS | 2021

What is blue carbon?

  1. Carbon captured by oceans and coastal ecosystems
  2. Carbon sequestered in forest biomass and agricultural soils
  3. Carbon contained in petroleum and natural gas
  4. Carbon present in atmosphere

Answer

Correct Answer

Carbon captured by oceans and coastal ecosystems

Explanation

Blue carbon is the carbon captured and stored by oceans and coastal ecosystems such as mangroves, seagrass meadows and salt marshes. Carbon in forest biomass and soils is 'green carbon', and petroleum and natural gas hold fossil carbon.

Topics: blue carbon, carbon sequestration, climate change, environment