British Sign Language Glossaries of Curriculum Terms

BSL Environmental Science Glossary - Carbon sink definition

Definition: Carbon sinks are the Earth's way of absorbing carbon dioxide (CO₂) from the atmosphere naturally. Carbon sinks include oceans, soil and plants. Forests are also natural carbon sinks. Fossil fuels too, and when they are burned, they release CO₂ back into the atmosphere. Trees release CO₂ when they are cut down, so do volcanoes when they erupt and release gases. Every year we produce 2.6 billion tonnes of CO₂. Deforestation makes even more CO₂ than can be absorbed naturally by existing natural carbon sinks.