Oceanic uptake of fossil fuel CO sub 2 : Carbon-13 evidence

Journal Article · Thu Apr 02 23:00:00 EST 1992 · Science (Washington, D.C.); (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1126/science.256.5053.74· OSTI ID:5243365

Quay, P D ^[1]; Tilbrook, B ^[2]; Wong, C S ^[3]

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1. Univ. of Washington, Seattle (United States)
2. Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization, Hobart, Tasmania (Australia)
3. Inst. of Ocean Sciences, Sidney, British Columbia (Canada)

The {delta}{sup 13}C value of the dissolved inorganic carbon in the surface waters of the Pacific Ocean has decreased by about 0.4 per mil between 1970 and 1990. This decrease has resulted from the uptake of atmospheric CO{sub 2} derived from fossil fuel combustion and deforestation. The net amounts of CO{sub 2} taken up by the oceans and released from the biosphere between 1970 and 1990 have been determined from the changes in three measured values: the concentration of atmospheric CO{sub 2}, the {delta}{sup 13}C of atmospheric CO{sub 2} and the {delta}{sup 13}C value of dissolved inorganic carbon in the ocean. The calculated average net oceanic CO{sub 2} uptake is 2.1 gigatons of carbon per year. This amount implies that the ocean is the dominant net sink for anthropogenically produced CO{sub 2} and that there has been no significant net CO{sub 2} released from the biosphere during the last 20 years.

• OSTI ID: 5243365
• Journal Information: Science (Washington, D.C.); (United States), Journal Name: Science (Washington, D.C.); (United States) Vol. 256:5053; ISSN SCIEA; ISSN 0036-8075
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

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