Oceanic sinks for anthropogenic CO sub 2
Journal Article
·
· International Journal of Energy-Environment-Economics; (United States)
OSTI ID:5379792
- Dept. of Oceanography, School of Ocean and Earth Science and Technology, Univ. of Hawaii, Honolulu, HI (US)
This paper reports that prior to human activities, there was a net flux of CO{sub 2} from the ocean through the atmosphere to the land. This flux fueled organic production in terrestrial ecosystems. Human interference in the CO{sub 2} cycle has reversed the role of the ocean as a CO{sub 2} source; it is now a net sink of anthropogenic CO{sub 2}. The strength of this sink is debatable. Sinks include solution of CO{sub 2} in surface seawater, and the more minor processes of dissolution of carbonates, nutrient fertilization and increased organic carbon burial increased fluxes of stream-derived particulate organic carbon (POC) and dissolved organic carbon (DOC) to the oceans, and increased dissolved inorganic carbon (DIC) flux from increased weathering. We determine that the sink strength of the combined minor fluxes is roughly 760 MTCY{sup {minus}1}. Dissolution of benthically-derived carbonate skeletons may account for about 7% of this flux. The process and importance of dissolution are discussed in light of sediment trap and water carbon chemistry data from the Hawaiian Archipelago. Each minor sink taken individually may not seem important when viewed against the atmospheric CO{sub 2} increase of 3000 MTCY{sup {minus}1}.
- OSTI ID:
- 5379792
- Journal Information:
- International Journal of Energy-Environment-Economics; (United States), Journal Name: International Journal of Energy-Environment-Economics; (United States) Vol. 1:2; ISSN IJEEE
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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