Ocean uptake of carbon dioxide

Conference · Thu Dec 31 23:00:00 EST 1992

OSTI ID:6430304

Peng, Tsung-Hung ^[1]; Takahashi, Taro ^[2]

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1. Oak Ridge National Lab., TN (United States)
2. Columbia Univ., Palisades, NY (United States). Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory

Factors controlling the capacity of the ocean for taking up anthropogenic C0[sup 2] include carbon chemistry, distribution of alkalinity, pCO[sup 2] and total concentration of dissolved C0[sup 2], sea-air pCO[sup 2] difference, gas exchange rate across the sea-air interface, biological carbon pump, ocean water circulation and mixing, and dissolution of carbonate in deep sea sediments. A general review of these processes is given and models of ocean-atmosphere system based on our understanding of these regulating processes axe used to estimate the magnitude of C0[sup 2] uptake by the ocean. We conclude that the ocean can absorb up to 35% of the fossil fuel emission. Direct measurements show that 55% Of C0[sup 2] from fossil fuel burning remains in the atmosphere. The remaining 10% is not accounted for by atmospheric increases and ocean uptake. In addition, it is estimated that an amount equivalent to 30% of recent annual fossil fuel emissions is released into the atmosphere as a result of deforestation and farming. To balance global carbon budget, a sizable carbon sink besides the ocean is needed. Storage of carbon in terrestrial biosphere as a result of C0[sup 2] fertilization is a potential candidate for such missing carbon sinks.

• Research Organization: Oak Ridge National Lab., TN (United States)
• Sponsoring Organization: DOE; USDOE, Washington, DC (United States)
• DOE Contract Number: AC05-84OR21400
• OSTI ID: 6430304
• Report Number(s): CONF-930830-17; ON: DE93012967
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

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540320* -- Environment
Aquatic-- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport-- (1990-)
ACID NEUTRALIZING CAPACITY
AIR-WATER INTERACTIONS
ALKALINE EARTH METAL COMPOUNDS
BETA DECAY RADIOISOTOPES
BETA-MINUS DECAY RADIOISOTOPES
CALCIUM CARBONATES
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CARBON 12
CARBON 14
CARBON COMPOUNDS
CARBON CYCLE
CARBON DIOXIDE
CARBON ISOTOPES
CARBON OXIDES
CARBONATES
CHALCOGENIDES
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
CHEMISTRY
CLIMATIC CHANGE
COMBUSTION
DISSOLVED GASES
ECOLOGICAL CONCENTRATION
ENERGY SOURCES
EVEN-EVEN NUCLEI
FLUIDS
FOSSIL FUELS
FUELS
GASES
GREENHOUSE EFFECT
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LIGHT NUCLEI
NUCLEI
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OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
RADIOISOTOPES
SEAS
SEDIMENTS
SOLUTES
SORPTION
STABLE ISOTOPES
SURFACE WATERS
THERMOCHEMICAL PROCESSES
WATER CHEMISTRY
YEARS LIVING RADIOISOTOPES