Why is the ocean called a carbon sink?

Answer 1

Oceans are at present CO2 sinks, and represent the largest active carbon sink on Earth, absorbing more than a quarter of the carbon dioxide that humans put into the air. At the present time, approximately one third of human generated emissions are estimated to be entering the ocean.

Answer 2

Carbon present in the atmosphere enters the water and gets used by organisms as calcium carbonate. It is with this component that skeletons and shells are built by the marine organism. Carbon is stored in the ocean for thousands of years and also plays an active role in moving from the ocean on a regular basis.

Answer 3

The oceans hold a large reservoir of carbon that can be exchanged with the atmosphere, depending on current and temperature movements, as well as changes in the marine biological ecosystem.

However, if there is more carbon dioxide in the atmosphere, then the carbon moves into the oceans. Carbon dioxide dissolves in water, making the oceans more acidic, and causing difficulties for some marine life.

The ocean-carbon uptake is complicated, with a solubility cycle and a biological cycle both causing feedback loops that affect the uptake. This makes it difficult to predict how the ocean-carbon uptake will operate in the future.

Answer 4

Water absorbs/dissolves Carbon Dioxide forming Carbonic acid, a precondition for carbon fixing in photosynthesis, the formation of Calcium Carbonate(limestone), and Calcium Sulphate (gypsum).

Answer 5

lots of carbon dioxide dissolves in the oceans

Answer 6

To be honest oceans play a very minor role in the carbon cycle. The only thing they do do is bury carbon fossils under hundreds of thousands of tons of water.