answersLogoWhite

0


Best Answer

The oceans help to keep the carbon dioxide level in the atmosphere low by dissolving a large portion of CO2 from the atmosphere. Unfortunately, the increased CO2 in the atmosphere is causing the oceans to become more acidic.

User Avatar

Wiki User

9y ago
This answer is:
User Avatar
More answers
User Avatar

Wiki User

13y ago

Algae in the oceans can absorb a considerable amount of carbon dioxide. The water itself also dissolves carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, however this is limited to the surface level waters, since there is little interchange between the warm surface water and the deep ocean waters.

Scientists believe that the ocean will continue to dissolve some of the anthropogenic carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, but not enough to stop levels rising. If we reduce the level of carbon dioxide generated by human activities, gradual interchange will carry dissolved carbon dioxide into the deep ocean waters over a period of thousands of years, after which carbon dioxide levels will fall towards their previous levels.

This answer is:
User Avatar

User Avatar

Wiki User

11y ago

Yes, the oceans have been a "carbon dioxide sink" for atmospheric carbon dioxide, but it comes at a price. When carbon dioxide dissolves into the ocean water, it can form carbonic acid, which then acidifies the ocean. This is occurring and is causing massive losses of plants and animals in coral reefs, because the skeletons of the coral are dissolving in the slightly more acidic water.

This answer is:
User Avatar

User Avatar

Wiki User

10y ago

The ocean absorbs carbon dioxide (CO2) from the atmosphere as part of the natural carbon cycle. As there is now more carbon in the atmosphere than before the ocean is taking more out and is becoming more acidic. This is damaging marine life, especially small shelled animals.

This answer is:
User Avatar

User Avatar

Wiki User

8y ago

Carbon Dioxide is soluble; thus some CO2 in the atmosphere will dissolve in the seawater. There it will be used by the phytoplankton and by limestone-producing animals that will sequester it in the sea sediments.

This answer is:
User Avatar

User Avatar

Wiki User

9y ago

Ocean water is canon dioxide sink, it removes the gas from the atmosphere. It is slightly alkaline and can absorb and retain carbon dioxide. This makes the water slightly less alkaline and damages corals and similar growths. in addition the phytoplancton and algae absorb carbon dioxide like any plant by photosynthesis.

This answer is:
User Avatar

Add your answer:

Earn +20 pts
Q: How did the oceans reduce the carbon dioxide levels?
Write your answer...
Submit
Still have questions?
magnify glass
imp
Continue Learning about Natural Sciences

How does cellular respiration effect carbon and oxygen in the atmosphere?

Cellular respiration uses oxygen and generates carbon dioxide. Photosynthesis uses carbon dioxide and generates oxygen.


How can we reduce your carbon footprint?

If you want to reduce your carbon footprint, you can reduce your emissions of CO2 (carbon dioxide) into the atmosphere.


Cement work might reduce carbon dioxide why?

The cement work cannot reduce carbon dioxide. In fact, the cement work increases carbon dioxide because carbon dioxide is emitted during the production of cement.


How do you produce less carbon dioxide?

By restricting the burning of wood and coal we can reduce the production of carbon dioxide. To minimize the production of carbon dioxide we should also restrict direct oxidation of carbon.


What might decrease global atmospheric carbon dioxide?

There is no known way that humans can economically remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere; all we can really do is reduce our emissions of carbon dioxide and slow down the rate at which atmospheric carbon dioxide levels are increasing. The surface waters of the ocean do absorb some carbon dioxide from the atmosphere as atmospheric carbon dioxide level increase, but there is little interchange betwen the warm upper ocean and the deep layers. However over a period of several thousand years, there is sufficient interchange to absorb large volumes of carbon dioxide, allowing the atmospheric concentration to return more or less to normal. Afforestation. Planting trees will remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.

Related questions

How does the formation of sedimentary rocks reduce carbon dioxide levels?

Because sedimentary rocks are formed from tiny animals which have died and fallen to the sea bed millions of years ago. Due to more substances falling onto the sea bed above the animals, they are pressurized underground. Due to the heat of Earth's core, the animals are burnt under the ground, turning into fossil fuels.These animals contain carbon dioxide, and reduce the levels from the atmosphere by dying and travelling underground. This is how sedimentary rocks are a reason for reduced levels of carbon dioxide in the modern atmosphere.Other reasons are that the carbon dioxide dissolved into oceans which were formed millions of years ago. Also, the formation of plants reduced the carbon dioxide levels due to photosynthesis, as they intake it and do not replace it, as they produce oxygen and glucose as a result of photosynthesis.


How will the level of carbon in the atmosphere change if humans do nothing to reduce their impact on the carbon cycle?

If humans continue doing nothing to reduce their impact on the carbon cycle then the levels of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere will continue to rise.


How does cellular respiration effect carbon and oxygen in the atmosphere?

Cellular respiration uses oxygen and generates carbon dioxide. Photosynthesis uses carbon dioxide and generates oxygen.


Would animals reduce co2 levels in the atmosphere?

No, only vegetation growing removes carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.


What are the most important steps developed countries could tke to help reduce levels of atomospheric carbon dioxide?

no


How can we reduce your carbon footprint?

If you want to reduce your carbon footprint, you can reduce your emissions of CO2 (carbon dioxide) into the atmosphere.


Cement work might reduce carbon dioxide why?

The cement work cannot reduce carbon dioxide. In fact, the cement work increases carbon dioxide because carbon dioxide is emitted during the production of cement.


How do carbon sinks reduce greenhouse gases?

A carbon sink is a storage for carbon. A tree is a carbon sink because it absorbs carbon dioxide (a greenhouse gas) from the atmosphere, stores the carbon and releases the oxygen. So forests are major carbon sinks which reduce the levels of greenhouse gas in the atmosphere.


Explain How a rain forest is able reduce carbon dioxide and produce oxygen?

A rainforest can reduce carbon-dioxide and produce oxygen by absorbing carbon-dioxide and releasing oxygen through photosynthesis.


Why is atmospheric carbon dioxide being measured?

Carbon dioxide is causing global warming and climate change. Countries are trying to reduce their emissions of this greenhouse gas. We measure CO2 levels to see if our preventative measures are having any effect.


Does an economical car reduce the amount of carbon dioxide in the air?

No car can actually reduce the amount of carbon dioxide in the air, but an economical car will add less additional carbon dioxide to the air than a less economical one.


Does the amount of sunlight affect how much carbon dioxide goes into the ocean?

Carbon dioxide absorption by the oceanis affected by how much is there already and solubility equilibrium.The second first - carbon dioxide dissolves into sea water depending on temperature. Warmer water can hold less. As a consequence sunlight can reduce the absorptive capacity by warming the water.Carbon dioxide enters the water to bring up the carbon dioxide levels to saturation levels. If the level in the water is educed by being absorbed by plants (algae) there is a deficiency of carbon dioxide and more carbon dioxide enters the water to make up the deficiency. Algae is more active when exposed to sunlight and absorbs more carbon dioxide. Sunlight thus enhances that amount of carbon dioxide transferring to the water from the atmosphere.