Sunday, January 11, 2009

Seas absorbing less CO2 because of global warming

Climate change and global warming have yet another negative impact on our seas, namely by reducing their ability to absorb CO2. According to latest study led by Kitack Lee, an associate professor at Pohang University of Science and Technology there is a sudden and dramatic collapse in the amount of carbon emissions absorbed by the Sea of Japan. Study authors believe that this could also affect CO2 uptake in the Atlantic and Southern oceans.

This happens because
the warmer conditions disrupt a process known as "ventilation" - the way seawater flows and mixes and drags absorbed CO2 from surface waters to the depths. Disruption of ventilation process decreases the uptake rate of CO2. Oceans and seas absorb around one quarter of total CO2, and every slight decrease in absorption process will cause much more CO2 in the atmosphere, opening door to a much higher temperatures in years to come.


Seas absorbing less CO2 because of disruption in "ventilation process"

The more CO2 gets absorbed by our seas the less of it will end up in the atmosphere, so every weakening of "ventilation" process gives another boost to already huge global warming problem. "Ventilation problem" in Sea of Japan is becoming a serious problem. Samples that were taken in period from 1999-2007 compared to the ones taken in period from
1992 to 1999 show that present samples had only half the level of dissolved CO2 in the seawater compared to previous ones. Same thing threatens all our oceans and seas.

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