Differentiate between the carbon source and carbon sink, with an example of each.

Differentiate between the carbon source and carbon sink, with an example of each.

• A. A carbon source stores carbon for long periods.
• B. A carbon sink releases more CO2 than it absorbs.
• C. A carbon source releases more CO2 than it absorbs; a carbon sink stores carbon for long periods.
• D. A carbon sink is only a geological feature.

Answer: (C)

A carbon source is something that adds CO2 to the atmosphere, releasing more carbon than it takes in. A carbon sink does the opposite: it removes CO2 from the atmosphere and stores it for long periods. An example of a carbon source is burning fossil fuels, like coal or oil, which releases large amounts of CO2 into the air. An example of a carbon sink is a forest, where trees and soil absorb CO2 during photosynthesis and store carbon for extended times; oceans also act as sinks by dissolving CO2 from the atmosphere. The statement that correctly matches both ideas says that a carbon source releases more CO2 than it absorbs, while a carbon sink stores carbon for long periods. The other options mischaracterize these roles: one describes a source as storing carbon, another reverses the direction of the exchange, and another falsely restricts sinks to geological features.

A carbon source is something that adds CO2 to the atmosphere, releasing more carbon than it takes in. A carbon sink does the opposite: it removes CO2 from the atmosphere and stores it for long periods.

An example of a carbon source is burning fossil fuels, like coal or oil, which releases large amounts of CO2 into the air. An example of a carbon sink is a forest, where trees and soil absorb CO2 during photosynthesis and store carbon for extended times; oceans also act as sinks by dissolving CO2 from the atmosphere.

The statement that correctly matches both ideas says that a carbon source releases more CO2 than it absorbs, while a carbon sink stores carbon for long periods. The other options mischaracterize these roles: one describes a source as storing carbon, another reverses the direction of the exchange, and another falsely restricts sinks to geological features.