UGC NET Questions (Paper – 1)

Carbon sequestration involves capturing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere or preventing its release and storing it in long-lived reservoirs. Natural sequestration occurs in forests, soils and oceans as carbon is taken up and retained in biomass and sediments. Technological approaches seek to store captured carbon dioxide in deep geological formations. Thus, defining sequestration as long-term storage of carbon in vegetation, soils, oceans or geological formations accurately conveys the concept.

Option A:
Option A is incorrect because burning forests releases stored carbon back into the atmosphere, increasing greenhouse gas concentrations. This is the opposite of sequestration, which aims to reduce or stabilise atmospheric levels.

Option B:
Option B is incorrect since carbon trading is a policy mechanism for allocating emission rights and does not itself store carbon. Sequestration may generate tradable credits, but the trade is distinct from the physical process of storage.

Option C:
Option C is correct as it recognises both biological and geological sinks. Enhancing these sinks is a key component of mitigation strategies that complement emission reduction efforts.

Option D:
Option D is incorrect because measuring carbon content is an accounting activity. While necessary for inventories and monitoring, it does not itself remove or store carbon from the atmosphere.