Carbon Sink

Natural reservoir that captures carbon dioxide and traps it via a chemical or biochemical reactions, helping to reduce overall concentrations of CO2 in the atmosphere. Carbon sinks also include artificial reservoirs used to store CO2. The main carbon sinks are oceans, new-growth forests and soils such as peat lands, permafrost and humus. Coal, oil and natural gas deposits, seabed methane hydrates and certain rocks, such as carbonates, are also carbon sinks and are all associated with very long-term sedimentary processes.