IB ESS SL 2.3.5 Carbon Sequestration Question Bank
Explain how carbon is sequestered in biomass, soils, oceans and geological stores.
- Syllabus
- First assessment 2026
- Course
- ESS SL
- Level
- SL
Explain how carbon is sequestered in biomass, soils, oceans and geological stores.

Figure A simplified food web in a kelp forest ecosystem

Figure Kelp forest ecosystems with and without the presence of sea otters
The arrows indicate the flow of carbon between the atmosphere and the carbon stored in kelp.
Outline how the protection of sea otters could help mitigate climate change.
a. more sea otters would result in control of crab/snail/urchin population...;
b. increasing/stabilizing kelp abundance;
c. Increasing primary productivity/photosynthesis;
d. resulting in higher assimilation of carbon dioxide/removal from atmosphere;