Carbon dioxide is absorbed by autotrophs during photosynthesis and locked up in biomass and sediment as organic carbon compounds.
The table below shows the relative mass of organic carbon stored per unit area in several different ecosystems.
| Ecosystem type | Ecosystem name | Relative mass of carbon stored per unit area (arbitrary units) |
|---|---|---|
| Terrestrial Forest | Boreal forest | 220 |
| Terrestrial Forest | Temperate rainforest | 320 |
| Marine Coastal | Seagrass meadow | 580 |
| Marine Coastal | Salt marsh | 1150 |
| Marine Coastal | Mangrove swamp | 1600 |
It has been suggested that targeting the conservation of marine coastal ecosystems is a more effective strategy for climate change mitigation than standard terrestrial forestation.
Describe how the data in the table supports this suggestion.
Practise Edexcel GCSE Chemistry Earth and atmospheric science with exam-style questions for Foundation and Higher tier. 62 questions, matched to the Edexcel GCSE Chemistry (1CH0) specification and written in Paper 1 and Paper 2 style. Every question includes a full worked solution and mark scheme, so you can see where marks are awarded rather than just whether you got the answer right.
