Editorial,  J Mar Biol Oceanogr Vol: 14 Issue: 3

CARBON SEQUESTRATION: MECHANISMS ECOSYSTEM SERVICES AND CLIMATE MITIGATION

Priyanka S Reddy^*

Department of Environmental Science, Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER), Pune, India

*Corresponding Author:

Priyanka S Reddy
Department of Environmental Science, Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER), Pune, India
E-mail: priyanka.reddy@iiserpune.ac.in

Received: 2-July-2025, Manuscript No. JMBO-26-187339; Editor assigned: 5-July-2025, Pre-QC No. JMBO-26-187339 (PQ); Reviewed: 23-July-2025, QC No JMBO-26-187339; Revised: 26-July-2025, Manuscript No. JMBO-26-187339 (R); Published: 31-July-2025, DOI: 12.4172/2324-903X.1000326

Abstract

Keywords: Carbon Sequestration, Climate Mitigation, Terrestrial Ecosystems, Soil Organic Carbon, Ocean Carbon Uptake, Carbon Cycle

Keywords

Carbon Sequestration, Climate Mitigation, Terrestrial Ecosystems, Soil Organic Carbon, Ocean Carbon Uptake, Carbon Cycle

Introduction

Carbon sequestration encompasses the processes by which carbon is removed from the atmosphere and stored in other components of the Earth system for extended periods. Atmospheric COâ?? has risen sharply since the Industrial Revolution due to fossil fuel combustion, deforestation, and landâ??use change, driving global warming and climate disruption. Mitigating these impacts requires both reducing emissions and enhancing carbon sequestration in natural and managed systems.

The global carbon cycle involves exchanges of carbon among the atmosphere, biosphere, oceans, and geosphere. Natural sequestration processes — such as photosynthesis in plants and phytoplankton, soil organic matter formation, and dissolution of COâ?? in seawater — transfer carbon from the fastâ??cycling atmosphere into slower reservoirs. Anthropogenic strategies, such as afforestation, soil management, and geological COâ?? storage, seek to augment these natural processes [1]. Understanding the mechanisms and capacities of different sequestration pathways is essential for climate mitigation strategies and ecosystem management.

Carbon Sequestration Pathways and Processes

Terrestrial ecosystems — forests, grasslands, and soils — are major carbon sinks. Carbon is sequestered as biomass carbon in plant tissues and as soil organic carbon (SOC) through litter deposition and decomposition.
Plants absorb COâ?? during photosynthesis, converting it into organic carbon stored in leaves, stems, roots, and woody biomass. Forest ecosystems are among the largest terrestrial carbon pools. Mature forests store significant amounts of carbon in biomass and soils, while young, rapidly growing forests can act as strong carbon sinks due to high rates of carbon uptake. Soils contain more carbon than vegetation and the atmosphere combined, largely in the form of soil organic matter (SOM). Carbon enters soils through plant litter, root exudates, and microbial residues, where it can persist for decades to millennia depending on soil conditions and management practices. Practices such as reduced tillage, cover cropping, and organic amendments enhance SOC sequestration by increasing carbon inputs and reducing decomposition rates [2].

The world’s oceans are the largest active carbon sink, absorbing COâ?? through physical and biological processes. COâ?? dissolves in surface waters where it reacts with water to form bicarbonate and carbonate ions. Circulation transports carbonâ??rich deep waters to the ocean interior, where it can remain isolated for centuries [3].
Phytoplankton in surface waters convert dissolved carbon into organic matter via photosynthesis. When these organisms die or are consumed, a fraction of their biomass sinks to deeper layers, transferring carbon from the surface — a process termed the biological carbon pump. This mechanism is crucial for longâ??term sequestration in deep ocean sediments. Beyond natural systems, carbon can be sequestered through engineered approaches. Captured COâ?? from industrial sources can be injected into deep geological formations — such as depleted oil and gas reservoirs or deep saline aquifers — where it is trapped under impermeable rock layers. This approach, known as carbon capture and storage (CCS), has the potential to reduce pointâ??source emissions significantly [4].

BECCS combines biomass energy production with COâ?? capture and storage, generating energy while removing carbon from the atmosphere. This strategy is considered a potential negative emissions technology in climate mitigation portfolios.

Enhancing carbon sequestration offers coâ??benefits including improved soil health, biodiversity support, and water quality. However, there are challenges — saturation of sinks, landâ??use tradeâ??offs (e.g., food vs. bioenergy production), and permanence. Policies like REDD+ (Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation) incentivize conservation and sustainable management of forests to maintain and enhance carbon stocks. Climate models regularly include sequestration scenarios to estimate future atmospheric COâ?? trajectories under different mitigation strategies [5].

Conclusion

Carbon sequestration is a fundamental process in the global carbon cycle and a key strategy for mitigating anthropogenic climate change. Terrestrial ecosystems store carbon in vegetation and soils, while oceans absorb COâ?? through physical and biological processes. Engineered approaches like geological storage and BECCS provide additional pathways to reduce atmospheric carbon. Understanding the capacities, rates, and controls of different sequestration mechanisms informs effective climate policy and ecosystem management. While sequestration cannot replace emissions reduction, it complements mitigation strategies and contributes to climate stabilization goals. Ongoing research and targeted policy incentives are essential to enhance natural and engineered carbon sinks in a changing climate.

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