Fate of fossil fuel carbon dioxide and the global carbon budget

Journal Article · Fri Oct 26 04:00:00 EDT 1979 · Science; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1126/science.206.4417.409· OSTI ID:5569719

Broecker, W S; Takahashi, T; Simpson, H J; Peng, T H

The fate of fossil fuel carbon dioxide released into the atmosphere depends on the exchange rates of carbon between the atmosphere and three major carbon reservoirs, namely, the oceans, shallow-water sediments, and the terrestrial biosphere. Various assumptions and models used to estimate the global carbon budget for the last 20 years are reviewed and evaluated. Several versions of recent atmosphere-ocean models appear to give reliable and mutually consistent estimates for carbon dioxide uptake by the oceans. On the other hand, there is no compelling evidence which establishes that the terrestrial biomass has decreased at a rate comparable to that of fossil fuel combustion over the last two decades, as has been recently claimed.

• Research Organization: Columbia Univ., Palisades, NY
• OSTI ID: 5569719
• Journal Information: Science; (United States), Journal Name: Science; (United States) Vol. 206; ISSN SCIEA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

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54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
BIOMASS
BIOSPHERE
CARBON
CARBON COMPOUNDS
CARBON CYCLE
CARBON DIOXIDE
CARBON OXIDES
CARBONACEOUS MATERIALS
CHALCOGENIDES
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EARTH ATMOSPHERE
ECOLOGICAL CONCENTRATION
ECOLOGY
ELEMENTS
ENERGY SOURCES
ENVIRONMENT
ENVIRONMENTAL EFFECTS
FOSSIL FUELS
FUELS
NONMETALS
OXIDES
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
RENEWABLE ENERGY SOURCES
SEAS
SURFACE WATERS