Süsinikuhoidmise

Süsinikuhoidmise is an Estonian term that translates to "carbon storage" or "carbon sequestration" in English. It refers to the process of capturing and storing atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO2) to reduce its concentration in the atmosphere and mitigate climate change. This process can occur naturally or through human intervention.

Natural carbon sequestration primarily happens through biological processes. Forests, oceans, and soils act as significant carbon sinks, absorbing CO2 from the atmosphere. Trees absorb CO2 during photosynthesis, storing carbon in their biomass (trunks, branches, leaves, and roots). Oceans absorb CO2 from the atmosphere, where it dissolves in seawater and can be stored in marine organisms and sediments. Soils store carbon through organic matter decomposition.

Human-induced or anthropogenic carbon sequestration methods aim to enhance these natural processes or implement new technologies. One prominent method is geological sequestration, where CO2 is captured from industrial sources, such as power plants, and injected into deep underground rock formations, like depleted oil and gas reservoirs or saline aquifers. Another approach is afforestation and reforestation, which involves planting trees on land that was not previously forested or replanting trees on land that has been deforested. Bioenergy with carbon capture and storage (BECCS) is another strategy that involves growing biomass, burning it for energy, and capturing and storing the resulting CO2 emissions. Direct air capture (DAC) technologies are also being developed to remove CO2 directly from the ambient air.

The concept of süsinikuhoidmise is crucial in global efforts to combat climate change by managing greenhouse gas emissions and reducing the overall amount of CO2 in the atmosphere.