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UPSC 2011: Human activities in the recent past have caused the increased concentration of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere, but a lot of it does not remain in the lower atmosphere because of 1. its escape into the outer stratosphere, 2. the photosynthesis by phytoplankton in the oceans, 3. the trapping of air in the polar ice caps. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
(a)1 and 2
(b)2 only
(c)2 and 3
(d)3 only
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Not attemptedCorrect Answer: (b) 2 only
Large quantities of atmospheric CO₂ are continually removed by photosynthesis performed by oceanic phytoplankton, making the oceans the major short-term sink. CO₂ neither ‘escapes’ into the outer stratosphere (it is too heavy and is well-mixed in the troposphere) nor is significant CO₂ permanently trapped in polar ice compared with the flux taken up biologically. Therefore only statement 2 is correct. ([scribd.com](https://www.scribd.com/document/973547011/1-UPSC-2011?utm_source=openai))
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the correct answer to this UPSC 2011 Environment & Ecology question?▼
The correct answer is option (b): 2 only. Watch the detailed video explanation in our Sherlocking Prelims course on UnlockIAS.
Which year was this Biogeochemical Cycles & Earth Systems question asked in UPSC Prelims?▼
This question was asked in UPSC CSE Prelims 2011, GS Paper 1, as Question 21. It falls under Environment & Ecology > Biogeochemical Cycles & Earth Systems.
What is the difficulty level of this UPSC question?▼
This question is rated "moderate". It requires sound conceptual understanding of the topic.
How many UPSC Prelims questions have been asked from Biogeochemical Cycles & Earth Systems?▼
UPSC has asked 8 questions from Biogeochemical Cycles & Earth Systems (under Environment & Ecology) across multiple years. Visit the topic page to see the full list and year-wise trends.