Photosynthetic organisms may counter the greenhouse effect by?

Answer 1

Organisms which use the photosynthesis process are part of a large natural process called the Carbon Cycle. Important elements are vegetation and trees and the world's oceans. Not only do these emit carbon dioxide (a known greenhouse gas) to the air, they also capture it again (trees and plants because they need it for their photosynthesis processes) from the air.

This way the amount of carbon dioxide in the earth's atmosphere is left more or less stable.

But humans also emit carbon dioxide (mainly by burning fossil fuels like oil, natural gas and coal) which puts additional amounts of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. However, unlike trees, plants and oceans, we do not remove carbon dioxide from the air so eventually, the total amount of carbon dioxide in the air goes up and thus create the greenhouse effect.

At present the natural Carbon Cycle already captures about 40% of human emitted carbon dioxide yet there are strong indications it cannot capture more (ie, increased ocean acidification due to high levels of carbon dioxide being absorbed).

Could natural organisms be used to counter the greenhouse effect further?

Possibly. But one has to remember that at present it is impossible to 'destroy' carbon dioxide. When such an organism dies, the carbon dioxide is eventually released back into the atmosphere.