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A sheaf of modules $\mathcal{F}$ over ${\mathcal{O}}_X$ is quasi-coherent when locally it admits a presentationwith arbitrary indexing sets $I,J$. On an affine chart, sheafifying the corresponding module presentation and using exactness of localization identifies its cokernel with a sheaf $\tilde{N}$. Thus one may equivalently require that locally on affine charts $\mathcal{F}$ is associated with a module. This does not impose finite generation, which belongs to the stronger coherent condition.

On the affine variety $X$ with coordinate ring $A$, put $M=\Gamma (X,\mathcal{F})$. Refine local module charts to a finite principal open cover $X={\bigcup }_{j}D(g_j)$ such that $\mathcal{F}{|}_{D(g_j)}\cong {\tilde{N}}_j$ for an $A_{g_j}$-module $N_j$. This is possible because principal opens form an open basis and $X$ is quasi-compact. On the overlap $D(g_j{g}_k)$ the sections are the corresponding further localization of $N_j$ or $N_k$. The sheaf gluing axiom gives an equalizerwhere the last map is the difference of restrictions. For any $f\in A$, localize this sequence. Exactness of localization and commutation with finite products give exactly the equalizer for the cover $D(f)={\bigcup }_{j}D(f{g}_j)$. HenceThe isomorphisms are canonical and commute with all basic-open restrictions. Since the sections of $\tilde{M}$ on these opens are $M_f$, they identify the two sheaves:Conversely $\tilde{M}$ is quasi-coherent for every $A$-module $M$, since a free presentation of $M$ gives the required sheaf presentation. Also $\Gamma (X,\tilde{M})=M$, and module homomorphisms sheafify, while a sheaf morphism is determined on every $D(f)$ by the localization of its map on global sections. This proves the affine module-sheaf equivalence.

For a short exact sequence of quasi-coherent sheaves, the sequence of their stalks is exact. Under this equivalence the stalk at $x$ is the localization of the global-section module at ${\mathfrak{m}}_x$. Exactness of module sequences can be checked at all maximal ideals, by localization detects zero elements applied to their homology, so the global-section modules also form a short exact sequence. Therefore global sections are exact on quasi-coherent sheaves over an affine variety. This is stronger than the left exactness of the global section functor on arbitrary sheaves, and follows from localization, not from assuming the cohomology vanishing still to be proved.

For an open inclusion $j:U\hookrightarrow X$, the requested sheaf isRestriction gives $\mathcal{F}\to {}_U\mathcal{F}$. This direct image from an open restriction is not extension by zero: its stalks outside $U$ may be nonzero.

The locally vanishing principle for sheaf cohomology says that a class $\xi \in H^i(X,\mathcal{F})$, $i>0$, is killed on a suitable neighbourhood of every point. Under the stated hypothesis that basis opens and their finite intersections have zero cohomology in degrees $1,\dots ,i-1$, these neighbourhoods can be chosen in that basis so that the image of $\xi$ underis zero. In particular its restriction in $H^i(U,\mathcal{F}{|}_U)$ is zero. This is a statement about individual classes; it does not assert that every locally vanishing class is already globally zero.

Here is a noncircular proof of vanishing of quasi-coherent cohomology on an affine scheme, applied to the variety. Induct on $i>0$, simultaneously for every affine variety and quasi-coherent sheaf. Assume all lower positive degrees vanish. The principal-open basis is closed under finite intersections, so it satisfies the principle's hypothesis. Given $\xi \in H^i(X,\mathcal{F})$, choose a finite principal cover $\mathcal{U}=(D(f_j))$ on which it restricts to zero.

Applying the Čech cochain complex to a flasque resolution gives the Čech lifting below the first possible local cohomology degree comparison segment, under lower-degree vanishing on all intersectionsFor completeness, the double complex has terms ${\check{C}}^p(\mathcal{U},{\mathcal{I}}^q)$. Its augmented rows are exact because each ${\mathcal{I}}^q$ is flasque, so its total cohomology is the cohomology of global sections of the resolution. The vertical cohomology on intersections in degrees $0<q<i$ is zero. Equivalently, start with local primitives of a cocycle representing $\xi$, take their differences on pairwise overlaps, and solve successively for primitives of those differences in degrees $i-1,i-2,\dots ,1$. The last difference is a Čech $i$-cocycle with values in $\mathcal{F}$. This identifies the kernel of the restriction map with the displayed Čech group. No vanishing in degree $i$ on the intersections has been assumed.

It remains a module calculation. Write $\mathcal{F}=\tilde{M}$. The augmented Čech complex isSince the $D(f_j)$ cover $X$, the $f_j$ generate the unit ideal. This complex is exact. To see it algebraically, use alternating cochains, with repeated indices giving zero. For a cocycle $c$, choose $N$ large enough to clear every $f_j$-denominator in $f_j^N{c}_{jI}$, as well as the finitely many cocycle relations; vanishing criterion in a module localization allows a further power to clear relations which initially hold only after localization. Since the ideal $(f_j^N)$ is still the unit ideal, choose $a_j$ with ${\sum }_j{a}_j{f}_j^N=1$. Defineusing those cleared representatives in $M_{f_I}$. The cocycle identity gives $\delta b=({\sum }_j{a}_j{f}_j^N)c=c$. The same argument with the augmentation gives gluing and uniqueness in degree zero. This is exactness of the unit-ideal localization Čech complex.

Thus ${\check{H}}^i(\mathcal{U},\mathcal{F})=0$, so the class $\xi$, whose restrictions were zero, is zero. The induction starts at $i=1$, when the lower-degree condition is empty. We have proved