| Topic: |
Politics > Politics-USA |
| User: |
"Captain Compassion" |
| Date: |
17 May 2007 07:32:44 PM |
| Object: |
Rapid rise in global warming is forecast |
From The Times
May 18, 2007
Rapid rise in global warming is forecast
Lewis Smith, Environment Reporter
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/uk/science/article1805870.ece
The oceans are losing the capacity to soak up rising man-made carbon
emissions, which is increasing the rate of global warming by up to 30
per cent, scientists said yesterday.
Researchers have found that the Southern Ocean is absorbing an
ever-decreasing proportion of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. The
excess carbon, which cannot be absorbed by the oceans, will remain in
the atmosphere and accelerate global warming, they said.
The reduced ability to absorb carbon is thought to be a result of high
winds acting on ocean currents bringing deeper waters that already
contain high levels of carbon to the surface.
The higher winds are themselves believed to have been caused by
climate change due to a combination of changes in the ozone layer and
carbon emissions.
The scientists from countries including Britain, France and Germany,
said their findings marked the first time that one of the world’s
natural “carbon sinks” had been shown to be weakened by Man’s own
actions.
Ian Totterdell, a climate modeller at the Met Office Hadley Centre,
described the research as “an important piece of work”.
He said: “This is the first time we have been able to get convincing
evidence that a change in the uptake of CO2 by the oceans is linked to
climate change.
“It’s one of many feedbacks we didn’t expect to kick in until some way
into the 21st century.”
While a reduction in absorption rates by carbon sinks has long been
forecast, the discovery that the Southern Ocean is mopping up less of
Man’s carbon emissions has come at least two decades earlier than
expected.
The Southern Ocean is the world’s biggest marine carbon sink and
accounts for 15 per cent of all the carbon taken out of the
atmosphere. Temperatures are already predicted to rise by almost 1.5C
(2.7F) by the middle of the century, without taking into account any
further emissions caused, for example, by the rapid construction of
fossil fuel power plants in China and India.
The weakening of the Southern Ocean’s absorption rates– which could be
in the range of 5 to 30 per cent– is likely to result in an increase
in the rate at which temperatures rise, scientists say.
“This is serious,” said Corinne Le Quéré, of the University of East
Anglia (UEA) and the British Antarctic Survey (BAS), two of the
world’s leading environmental research centres. “This is the first
time that we’ve been able to say that climate change itself is
responsible for the saturation of the Southern Ocean sink. “With the
Southern Ocean reaching its saturation point more CO2 will stay in our
atmosphere. Since the early 1980s the carbon sink hasn’t changed. In
the same period the emissions have gone up by 43 per cent.”
Dr Le Quéré led a team measuring atmospheric carbon dioxide, which
found that, despite this rise in emissions since 1981, the quantity
absorbed by the ocean was static.
Since the industrial revolution an estimated 500 giga-tonnes of carbon
dioxide has been released into the atmosphere through the use of
fossil fuels, cement manufacture and changes in land use.
About a quarter of this has been absorbed by the oceans and a further
quarter taken up by vegetation.
The research, published in Science, identified changes in wind
patterns caused by climate change as being the direct cause of the
weakened ability to absorb carbon dioxide.
While able to pinpoint the hole in the ozone layer and carbon
emissions as the man-made causes of the increased winds, the
researchers were unable to identify which of them had the greater
effect.
The net quantity of carbon dioxide absorbed by the Southern Ocean
remained at 0.3 billion tonnes a year from 1981 to 2004, according to
calculations by the research team.
In 1981 it absorbed 0.6 billion tonnes from the atmosphere but emitted
0.3 billion tonnes back into it. In 2004 it absorbed 0.8 billion
tonnes but emitted 0.5 billion tonnes. In the report they said that
climate models project more intense Southern Ocean winds if CO2 levels
continue to increase over the next century.
The researchers accepted there were limits to the data available from
the Southern Ocean and that “the magnitude of the CO2 sink is heavily
disputed”.
Professor Chris Rapley, director of BAS, said uncertaintities
remained, but the findings were “a serious concern”.
He said the reduced efficiency of the ocean to act as a carbon sink
would make it harder to reduce emissions to levels that were low
enough to limit temperature rises to 2C.
--
There may come a time when the CO2 police will wander the earth telling
the poor and the dispossed how many dung chips they can put on their
cook fires. -- Captain Compassion.
Wherever I go it will be well with me, for it was well with me here, not
on account of the place, but of my judgments which I shall carry away
with me, for no one can deprive me of these; on the contrary, they alone
are my property, and cannot be taken away, and to possess them suffices
me wherever I am or whatever I do. -- EPICTETUS
Celibacy in healthy human beings is a form of
insanity. -- Captain Compassion
"Civilization is the interval between Ice Ages." -- Will Durant.
Joseph R. Darancette
daranc@NOSPAMcharter.net
.
|
|
| User: "PagCal" |
|
| Title: Re: Rapid rise in global warming is forecast |
18 May 2007 01:38:21 AM |
|
|
Polar ocean 'soaking up less CO2'
By Paul Rincon
Science reporter, BBC News
One of Earth's most important absorbers of carbon dioxide (CO2) is
failing to soak up as much of the greenhouse gas as it was expected to,
scientists say.
The decline of Antarctica's Southern Ocean carbon "sink" - or reservoir
- means that atmospheric CO2 levels may be higher in future than predicted.
These carbon sinks are vital as they mop up excess CO2 from the
atmosphere, slowing down global warming.
The study, by an international team, is published in the journal Science.
This effect had been predicted by climate scientists, and is taken into
account - to some extent - by climate models. But it appears to be
happening 40 years ahead of schedule.
The data will help refine models of the Earth's climate, including those
upon which the predictions of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate
Change (IPCC) are based.
Of all the CO2 emitted into the atmosphere, only half of it stays there;
the rest goes into carbon sinks.
There are two major natural carbon sinks: the oceans and the land
"biosphere". They are equivalent in size, each absorbing a quarter of
all CO2 emissions.
The Southern Ocean is thought to account for about 15% of all carbon sinks.
Sink efficiency
It was assumed that, as human activities released more CO2 into the
atmosphere, ocean sinks would keep pace, absorbing a comparable
percentage of this greenhouse gas.
The breakdown in efficiency of these sinks was an expected outcome, but
not until the second half of the 21st Century.
Lead researcher Corinne Le Quere and colleagues collected atmospheric
CO2 data from 11 stations in the Southern Ocean and 40 stations across
the globe.
Measurements of atmospheric CO2 allowed them to infer how much carbon
dioxide was taken up by sinks. The team was then able to see how
efficient they were in comparison to one another at absorbing CO2.
"Ever since observations started in 1981, we see that the sinks have not
increased [in their absorption of CO2]," Corinne LeQuere told the BBC's
Science in Action programme.
"They have remained the same as they were 24 years ago even though the
emissions have risen by 40%."
The cause of the decline in the Southern Ocean sink, the researchers
explain, is a rise in windiness since 1958.
This increase in Southern Ocean winds has been attributed to two factors.
The first is the depletion of ozone in the upper atmosphere, which
changes the temperature of this region.
The second is recent climate change, which warms the tropics more than
the Southern Ocean.
Both these processes change atmospheric circulation over the Southern
Ocean, resulting in stronger winds.
Churning waters
Oceans store much of their CO2 in deep waters. But, explained Dr Le
Quere, "as the winds increase, the water in the ocean mixes more".
The British Antarctic Survey (BAS) scientist added: "The CO2 that would
normally be in the deep ocean and would just stay there instead gets
brought up to the surface and outgasses to the atmosphere."
The ocean surface becomes saturated with CO2 and cannot take up any more
from the atmosphere.
Dr Sus Honjo, from the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (WHOI) in
Massachusetts, US, is working on a separate project to assess the
efficiency of the Southern Ocean carbon sink, using a different method.
He said recent developments in technology now made possible very
detailed monitoring of marine carbon sinks, with some data available in
real time.
"We have been way behind the modellers, who are hungry for numbers. But
now we are starting to catch up because of the new tools and instruments
available," he told BBC News.
Dr Honjo said recent evidence suggested the north-western Pacific
appeared to be another significant CO2 sink.
As CO2 is absorbed by the oceans, it makes them more acidic, harming
populations of marine organisms such as coral. The latest study suggests
that phenomenon will only get worse over the century.
"The problem is that the extra CO2 from human emissions stays in the
surface ocean and does not get removed to deep waters," said Dr Le Quere.
"So the problem gets worse, because the biological organisms affected by
ocean acidification live, of course, at the surface where there is
sunlight."
Paul.Rincon-INTERNET@bbc.co.uk
Story from BBC NEWS:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/2/hi/science/nature/6665147.stm
Published: 2007/05/17 21:21:28 GMT
© BBC MMVII
.
|
|
|
| User: "Captain Compassion" |
|
| Title: Re: Rapid rise in global warming is forecast |
19 May 2007 08:24:37 PM |
|
|
On Fri, 18 May 2007 02:38:21 -0400, PagCal <pagcal@runbox.com> wrote:
Polar ocean 'soaking up less CO2'
By Paul Rincon
Science reporter, BBC News
One of Earth's most important absorbers of carbon dioxide (CO2) is
failing to soak up as much of the greenhouse gas as it was expected to,
scientists say.
The amount of CO2 or other dissolved gas in the ocean depends mainly
on it's temperature. The cooler the water the more that can be
absorbed. This is why atmospheric CO2 levels rise when global
temperature rises and fall when global temperatures fall. Warming
oceans emit more CO2 than they absorb. CO2 levels follow global
temperatures not lead them.
The decline of Antarctica's Southern Ocean carbon "sink" - or reservoir
- means that atmospheric CO2 levels may be higher in future than predicted.
These carbon sinks are vital as they mop up excess CO2 from the
atmosphere, slowing down global warming.
The study, by an international team, is published in the journal Science.
This effect had been predicted by climate scientists, and is taken into
account - to some extent - by climate models. But it appears to be
happening 40 years ahead of schedule.
The data will help refine models of the Earth's climate, including those
upon which the predictions of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate
Change (IPCC) are based.
Of all the CO2 emitted into the atmosphere, only half of it stays there;
the rest goes into carbon sinks.
There are two major natural carbon sinks: the oceans and the land
"biosphere". They are equivalent in size, each absorbing a quarter of
all CO2 emissions.
The Southern Ocean is thought to account for about 15% of all carbon sinks.
Sink efficiency
It was assumed that, as human activities released more CO2 into the
atmosphere, ocean sinks would keep pace, absorbing a comparable
percentage of this greenhouse gas.
The breakdown in efficiency of these sinks was an expected outcome, but
not until the second half of the 21st Century.
Lead researcher Corinne Le Quere and colleagues collected atmospheric
CO2 data from 11 stations in the Southern Ocean and 40 stations across
the globe.
Measurements of atmospheric CO2 allowed them to infer how much carbon
dioxide was taken up by sinks. The team was then able to see how
efficient they were in comparison to one another at absorbing CO2.
"Ever since observations started in 1981, we see that the sinks have not
increased [in their absorption of CO2]," Corinne LeQuere told the BBC's
Science in Action programme.
"They have remained the same as they were 24 years ago even though the
emissions have risen by 40%."
The cause of the decline in the Southern Ocean sink, the researchers
explain, is a rise in windiness since 1958.
This increase in Southern Ocean winds has been attributed to two factors.
The first is the depletion of ozone in the upper atmosphere, which
changes the temperature of this region.
The second is recent climate change, which warms the tropics more than
the Southern Ocean.
Both these processes change atmospheric circulation over the Southern
Ocean, resulting in stronger winds.
Churning waters
Oceans store much of their CO2 in deep waters. But, explained Dr Le
Quere, "as the winds increase, the water in the ocean mixes more".
The British Antarctic Survey (BAS) scientist added: "The CO2 that would
normally be in the deep ocean and would just stay there instead gets
brought up to the surface and outgasses to the atmosphere."
The ocean surface becomes saturated with CO2 and cannot take up any more
from the atmosphere.
Dr Sus Honjo, from the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (WHOI) in
Massachusetts, US, is working on a separate project to assess the
efficiency of the Southern Ocean carbon sink, using a different method.
He said recent developments in technology now made possible very
detailed monitoring of marine carbon sinks, with some data available in
real time.
"We have been way behind the modellers, who are hungry for numbers. But
now we are starting to catch up because of the new tools and instruments
available," he told BBC News.
Dr Honjo said recent evidence suggested the north-western Pacific
appeared to be another significant CO2 sink.
As CO2 is absorbed by the oceans, it makes them more acidic, harming
populations of marine organisms such as coral. The latest study suggests
that phenomenon will only get worse over the century.
"The problem is that the extra CO2 from human emissions stays in the
surface ocean and does not get removed to deep waters," said Dr Le Quere.
"So the problem gets worse, because the biological organisms affected by
ocean acidification live, of course, at the surface where there is
sunlight."
Paul.Rincon-INTERNET@bbc.co.uk
Story from BBC NEWS:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/2/hi/science/nature/6665147.stm
40 years ahead of projections? This tells you that these guys don't
have a clue.
"All models are wrong, but some are useful". -- George E. P. Box
--
There may come a time when the CO2 police will wander the earth telling
the poor and the dispossed how many dung chips they can put on their
cook fires. -- Captain Compassion.
Wherever I go it will be well with me, for it was well with me here, not
on account of the place, but of my judgments which I shall carry away
with me, for no one can deprive me of these; on the contrary, they alone
are my property, and cannot be taken away, and to possess them suffices
me wherever I am or whatever I do. -- EPICTETUS
Celibacy in healthy human beings is a form of
insanity. -- Captain Compassion
"Civilization is the interval between Ice Ages." -- Will Durant.
Joseph R. Darancette
daranc@NOSPAMcharter.net
.
|
|
|
| User: "Kurt Lochner" |
|
| Title: Re: Rapid rise in global warming is forecast |
19 May 2007 10:17:42 PM |
|
|
"lacking compassion" wrote:
On Fri, 18 May 2007 02:38:21 -0400, PagCal <pagcal@runbox.com> wrote:
Polar ocean 'soaking up less CO2'
By Paul Rincon
Science reporter, BBC News
http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/2/hi/science/nature/6665147.stm
One of Earth's most important absorbers of carbon dioxide (CO2) is
failing to soak up as much of the greenhouse gas as it was expected
to, scientists say.
The amount of CO2 or other dissolved gas in the ocean depends mainly
on it's temperature.
Nope. It can only hold so much, thus slowing the intake as well..
--You don't have much familiarity with the sciences, do you?
.
|
|
|
| User: "Captain Compassion" |
|
| Title: Re: Rapid rise in global warming is forecast |
19 May 2007 11:17:02 PM |
|
|
On Sat, 19 May 2007 22:17:42 -0500, Kurt Lochner
<kurt_lochner@NOSPAMhotmail.com> wrote:
"lacking compassion" wrote:
On Fri, 18 May 2007 02:38:21 -0400, PagCal <pagcal@runbox.com> wrote:
Polar ocean 'soaking up less CO2'
By Paul Rincon
Science reporter, BBC News
http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/2/hi/science/nature/6665147.stm
One of Earth's most important absorbers of carbon dioxide (CO2) is
failing to soak up as much of the greenhouse gas as it was expected
to, scientists say.
The amount of CO2 or other dissolved gas in the ocean depends mainly
on it's temperature.
Nope. It can only hold so much, thus slowing the intake as well..
Exactly and how much can be held is primarily determined by
temperature.
--You don't have much familiarity with the sciences, do you?
Ok what besides temperature determines how much dissolved gas that H2O
can hold?
--
There may come a time when the CO2 police will wander the earth telling
the poor and the dispossed how many dung chips they can put on their
cook fires. -- Captain Compassion.
Wherever I go it will be well with me, for it was well with me here, not
on account of the place, but of my judgments which I shall carry away
with me, for no one can deprive me of these; on the contrary, they alone
are my property, and cannot be taken away, and to possess them suffices
me wherever I am or whatever I do. -- EPICTETUS
Celibacy in healthy human beings is a form of
insanity. -- Captain Compassion
"Civilization is the interval between Ice Ages." -- Will Durant.
Joseph R. Darancette
daranc@NOSPAMcharter.net
.
|
|
|
| User: "Kurt Lochner" |
|
| Title: Re: Rapid rise in global warming is forecast |
20 May 2007 11:18:31 AM |
|
|
Captain Compassion wrote:
On Sat, 19 May 2007 22:17:42 -0500, Kurt Lochner
<kurt_lochner@NOSPAMhotmail.com> wrote:
"lacking compassion" wrote:
On Fri, 18 May 2007 02:38:21 -0400, PagCal <pagcal@runbox.com> wrote:
Polar ocean 'soaking up less CO2'
By Paul Rincon
Science reporter, BBC News
http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/2/hi/science/nature/6665147.stm
One of Earth's most important absorbers of carbon dioxide (CO2) is
failing to soak up as much of the greenhouse gas as it was expected
to, scientists say.
The amount of CO2 or other dissolved gas in the ocean depends mainly
on it's temperature.
Nope. It can only hold so much, thus slowing the intake as well..
Exactly and how much can be held is primarily determined by temperature.
Nope. You've over-simplified the matter to suit your prejudices..
--You don't have much familiarity with the sciences, do you?
Ok what besides temperature determines how much dissolved gas [..]
*>LOL!<* You're clueless about the details, aren't you?
Pressure, alkalinity, dissolved oxygen, salinity, pH to name a few..
--Like I said, your "false absolutes" refute your claims..
.
|
|
|
| User: "Captain Compassion" |
|
| Title: Re: Rapid rise in global warming is forecast |
20 May 2007 02:09:36 PM |
|
|
On Sun, 20 May 2007 11:18:31 -0500, Kurt Lochner
<kurt_lochner@NOSPAMhotmail.com> wrote:
Captain Compassion wrote:
On Sat, 19 May 2007 22:17:42 -0500, Kurt Lochner
<kurt_lochner@NOSPAMhotmail.com> wrote:
"lacking compassion" wrote:
On Fri, 18 May 2007 02:38:21 -0400, PagCal <pagcal@runbox.com> wrote:
Polar ocean 'soaking up less CO2'
By Paul Rincon
Science reporter, BBC News
http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/2/hi/science/nature/6665147.stm
One of Earth's most important absorbers of carbon dioxide (CO2) is
failing to soak up as much of the greenhouse gas as it was expected
to, scientists say.
The amount of CO2 or other dissolved gas in the ocean depends mainly
on it's temperature.
Nope. It can only hold so much, thus slowing the intake as well..
Exactly and how much can be held is primarily determined by temperature.
Nope. You've over-simplified the matter to suit your prejudices..
--You don't have much familiarity with the sciences, do you?
Ok what besides temperature determines how much dissolved gas [..]
*>LOL!<* You're clueless about the details, aren't you?
Pressure, alkalinity, dissolved oxygen, salinity, pH to name a few..
--Like I said, your "false absolutes" refute your claims..
It's temperature of the water. This is a constant.
--
There may come a time when the CO2 police will wander the earth telling
the poor and the dispossed how many dung chips they can put on their
cook fires. -- Captain Compassion.
Wherever I go it will be well with me, for it was well with me here, not
on account of the place, but of my judgments which I shall carry away
with me, for no one can deprive me of these; on the contrary, they alone
are my property, and cannot be taken away, and to possess them suffices
me wherever I am or whatever I do. -- EPICTETUS
Celibacy in healthy human beings is a form of
insanity. -- Captain Compassion
"Civilization is the interval between Ice Ages." -- Will Durant.
Joseph R. Darancette
daranc@NOSPAMcharter.net
.
|
|
|
| User: "Kurt Lochner" |
|
| Title: Re: Rapid rise in global warming is forecast |
20 May 2007 02:21:48 PM |
|
|
"lacking comprehension" wrote:
Kurt Lochner continued laughing at the ignorance of:
"lacking comprehension" wrote:
Kurt Lochner was laughing at the intentional ignorance of:
"lacking comprehension" wrote:
On Fri, 18 May 2007 02:38:21 -0400, PagCal <pagcal@runbox.com> wrote:
Polar ocean 'soaking up less CO2'
By Paul Rincon
Science reporter, BBC News
http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/2/hi/science/nature/6665147.stm
One of Earth's most important absorbers of carbon dioxide (CO2) is
failing to soak up as much of the greenhouse gas as it was expected
to, scientists say.
The amount of CO2 or other dissolved gas in the ocean depends mainly
on it's temperature.
Nope. It can only hold so much, thus slowing the intake as well..
Exactly and how much can be held is primarily determined by temperature.
Nope. You've over-simplified the matter to suit your prejudices..
--You don't have much familiarity with the sciences, do you?
Ok what besides temperature determines how much dissolved gas [..]
*>LOL!<* You're clueless about the details, aren't you?
Pressure, alkalinity, dissolved oxygen, salinity, pH to name a few..
--Like I said, your "false absolutes" refute your claims..
It's temperature of the water[..]
Nope, that isn't a "constant" all over the globe, nor are the
amounts of salinity, already absorbed CO2 and oxygen..
--You've again assumed false absolutes where none exist..
.
|
|
|
| User: "Captain Compassion" |
|
| Title: Re: Rapid rise in global warming is forecast |
20 May 2007 03:04:10 PM |
|
|
On Sun, 20 May 2007 14:21:48 -0500, Kurt Lochner
<kurt_lochner@NOSPAMhotmail.com> wrote:
"lacking comprehension" wrote:
Kurt Lochner continued laughing at the ignorance of:
"lacking comprehension" wrote:
Kurt Lochner was laughing at the intentional ignorance of:
"lacking comprehension" wrote:
On Fri, 18 May 2007 02:38:21 -0400, PagCal <pagcal@runbox.com> wrote:
Polar ocean 'soaking up less CO2'
By Paul Rincon
Science reporter, BBC News
http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/2/hi/science/nature/6665147.stm
One of Earth's most important absorbers of carbon dioxide (CO2) is
failing to soak up as much of the greenhouse gas as it was expected
to, scientists say.
The amount of CO2 or other dissolved gas in the ocean depends mainly
on it's temperature.
Nope. It can only hold so much, thus slowing the intake as well..
Exactly and how much can be held is primarily determined by temperature.
Nope. You've over-simplified the matter to suit your prejudices..
--You don't have much familiarity with the sciences, do you?
Ok what besides temperature determines how much dissolved gas [..]
*>LOL!<* You're clueless about the details, aren't you?
Pressure, alkalinity, dissolved oxygen, salinity, pH to name a few..
--Like I said, your "false absolutes" refute your claims..
It's temperature of the water[..]
Nope, that isn't a "constant" all over the globe, nor are the
amounts of salinity, already absorbed CO2 and oxygen..
--You've again assumed false absolutes where none exist..
There is a maximum amount of CO2 or other dissolved gasses that water
can contain at a given temperature. If more CO2 or other gas is forced
in that it becomes soda pop.
--
There may come a time when the CO2 police will wander the earth telling
the poor and the dispossed how many dung chips they can put on their
cook fires. -- Captain Compassion.
Wherever I go it will be well with me, for it was well with me here, not
on account of the place, but of my judgments which I shall carry away
with me, for no one can deprive me of these; on the contrary, they alone
are my property, and cannot be taken away, and to possess them suffices
me wherever I am or whatever I do. -- EPICTETUS
Celibacy in healthy human beings is a form of
insanity. -- Captain Compassion
"Civilization is the interval between Ice Ages." -- Will Durant.
Joseph R. Darancette
daranc@NOSPAMcharter.net
.
|
|
|
| User: "Kurt Lochner" |
|
| Title: Re: Rapid rise in global warming is forecast |
20 May 2007 03:15:38 PM |
|
|
"lacking comprehension" wrote:
Kurt Lochner was still laughing at the nonsense exhibited by:
"lacking comprehension" wrote:
Kurt Lochner continued laughing at the ignorance of:
"lacking comprehension" wrote:
Kurt Lochner was laughing at the intentional ignorance of:
"lacking comprehension" wasn't being quoted:
__________>
--You don't have much familiarity with the sciences, do you?
Ok what besides temperature determines how much dissolved gas [..]
*>LOL!<* You're clueless about the details, aren't you?
Pressure, alkalinity, dissolved oxygen, salinity, pH to name a few..
--Like I said, your "false absolutes" refute your claims..
It's temperature of the water[..]
Nope, that isn't a "constant" all over the globe, nor are the
amounts of salinity, already absorbed CO2 and oxygen..
--You've again assumed false absolutes where none exist..
There is a maximum amount of CO2 or other dissolved gasses [..]
You again neglect any other details that don't suit your
fallacy arguments, such as the measured amounts of CO2 that
have already been "absorbed" by the oceans, and again falsely
pretend that the amount depends solely upon temperature..
--Which falsifies your so-called debunking..
.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| User: "Proud American" |
|
| Title: Re: Rapid rise in global warming is forecast |
18 May 2007 11:18:41 AM |
|
|
This is historical fact.. The end of the ice age was caused by dinosaurs
driving exhaust emitting SUVs.
"PagCal" <pagcal@runbox.com> wrote in message
news:yRb3i.1877$1y5.445@newsfe02.lga...
Polar ocean 'soaking up less CO2'
By Paul Rincon
Science reporter, BBC News
One of Earth's most important absorbers of carbon dioxide (CO2) is
failing to soak up as much of the greenhouse gas as it was expected to,
scientists say.
The decline of Antarctica's Southern Ocean carbon "sink" - or reservoir
- means that atmospheric CO2 levels may be higher in future than
predicted.
These carbon sinks are vital as they mop up excess CO2 from the
atmosphere, slowing down global warming.
The study, by an international team, is published in the journal Science.
This effect had been predicted by climate scientists, and is taken into
account - to some extent - by climate models. But it appears to be
happening 40 years ahead of schedule.
The data will help refine models of the Earth's climate, including those
upon which the predictions of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate
Change (IPCC) are based.
Of all the CO2 emitted into the atmosphere, only half of it stays there;
the rest goes into carbon sinks.
There are two major natural carbon sinks: the oceans and the land
"biosphere". They are equivalent in size, each absorbing a quarter of
all CO2 emissions.
The Southern Ocean is thought to account for about 15% of all carbon
sinks.
Sink efficiency
It was assumed that, as human activities released more CO2 into the
atmosphere, ocean sinks would keep pace, absorbing a comparable
percentage of this greenhouse gas.
The breakdown in efficiency of these sinks was an expected outcome, but
not until the second half of the 21st Century.
Lead researcher Corinne Le Quere and colleagues collected atmospheric
CO2 data from 11 stations in the Southern Ocean and 40 stations across
the globe.
Measurements of atmospheric CO2 allowed them to infer how much carbon
dioxide was taken up by sinks. The team was then able to see how
efficient they were in comparison to one another at absorbing CO2.
"Ever since observations started in 1981, we see that the sinks have not
increased [in their absorption of CO2]," Corinne LeQuere told the BBC's
Science in Action programme.
"They have remained the same as they were 24 years ago even though the
emissions have risen by 40%."
The cause of the decline in the Southern Ocean sink, the researchers
explain, is a rise in windiness since 1958.
This increase in Southern Ocean winds has been attributed to two factors.
The first is the depletion of ozone in the upper atmosphere, which
changes the temperature of this region.
The second is recent climate change, which warms the tropics more than
the Southern Ocean.
Both these processes change atmospheric circulation over the Southern
Ocean, resulting in stronger winds.
Churning waters
Oceans store much of their CO2 in deep waters. But, explained Dr Le
Quere, "as the winds increase, the water in the ocean mixes more".
The British Antarctic Survey (BAS) scientist added: "The CO2 that would
normally be in the deep ocean and would just stay there instead gets
brought up to the surface and outgasses to the atmosphere."
The ocean surface becomes saturated with CO2 and cannot take up any more
from the atmosphere.
Dr Sus Honjo, from the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (WHOI) in
Massachusetts, US, is working on a separate project to assess the
efficiency of the Southern Ocean carbon sink, using a different method.
He said recent developments in technology now made possible very
detailed monitoring of marine carbon sinks, with some data available in
real time.
"We have been way behind the modellers, who are hungry for numbers. But
now we are starting to catch up because of the new tools and instruments
available," he told BBC News.
Dr Honjo said recent evidence suggested the north-western Pacific
appeared to be another significant CO2 sink.
As CO2 is absorbed by the oceans, it makes them more acidic, harming
populations of marine organisms such as coral. The latest study suggests
that phenomenon will only get worse over the century.
"The problem is that the extra CO2 from human emissions stays in the
surface ocean and does not get removed to deep waters," said Dr Le Quere.
"So the problem gets worse, because the biological organisms affected by
ocean acidification live, of course, at the surface where there is
sunlight."
Paul.Rincon-INTERNET@bbc.co.uk
Story from BBC NEWS:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/2/hi/science/nature/6665147.stm
Published: 2007/05/17 21:21:28 GMT
© BBC MMVII
.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Related Articles |
|
|
