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Atmospheric carbon dioxide dissolves in the water close to the surface of the ocean. As the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere increases, therefore, so does the concentration of carbon dioxide in these surface waters. Most of the absorbed carbon is accommodated by chemical reactions between the water and carbon dioxide . But this 'buffering' capacity has limits and - if this water remains at the surface - it eventually becomes saturated with carbon dioxide.
Surface water and deep water, however, are slowly but constantly overturning in a cycle of about 1000 years. As the surface waters move downwards - a process that occurs mainly in the North Atlantic and Southern oceans - it carries dissolved carbon dioxide down with it. As a result, about 75 per cent of the carbon that has been absorbed by the ocean since human activities began releasing carbon dioxide now resides in deeper waters. Overall, therefore, this process has recently been working as an important sink for carbon produced by human activity.
Such downward transport, however, is relatively slow, and so it is ocean circulation - and not dissolution of carbon dioxide in surface waters - that limits carbon dioxide uptake by the oceans. Furthermore, models of the movement of oceanic water masses predict that in a warmer climate the sinking of surface water, and hence burial of carbon dioxide, will slow down, reducing the future role of the ocean as a carbon sink.
Another way that the oceans absorb carbon is through the action of microscopic marine plants. When these organisms die, their bodies sink into deeper water. Although most of the carbon in the organisms decomposes to carbon dioxide before reaching the ocean floor, it is prevented from escaping back to the atmosphere (at least, until the oceans turn over).
This biological uptake of carbon will probably increase in future, as changes in sea surface temperatures and chemistry lead to an increase in the growth of algae. But it will not be enough, however, to compensate for the reduced downward transport of water and dissolved carbon, and hence is unlikely prevent the overall ocean sink diminishing in the future. Inedeed sinks will probably never lead to a decrease in atmospheric carbon dioxide whilst carbon dioxide emissions continue at their current level.
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Which item is a carbon sink and not part of the carbon cycle?
Carbon found within limestone rocks.
What force makes cold water sink toward the ocean floor?
gravity
Where can we get water?
An ocean,a river, a pool, a sink, a pond, or anywhere with the blue stuff(water) filling in a big hole
Will a vinegar and baking soda balloon go up like a helium balloon?
"No as the vinegar and baking soda combined weight is too heavy - helium lighter than air therefore it goes up/floats" Hello - the above prior answer is correct if you mean attaching vinegar and baking soda as a payload. If you mean just capturing the gas from the reaction, the above answer ends up correct anyway, as the gaseous product of the reaction is CO2 (carbon dioxide). CO2 is about 50% heavier than air (mostly Nitrogen), so a balloon filled with CO2 will still sink. ---MexicoDoug
How do you be earth friendly with your toilet?
well, you could pee in the sink or shower. in Brazil they are telling people to "pee in the shower to save the Atlantic ocean".
What process removes carbon dioxide from the atmosphere acting as a carbon sink?
Other than photosynthesis, the formation of carbonates in the ocean traps carbon from the atmosphere.
What removed carbon dioxide from the atmosphere acting as a carbon sink?
Other than photosynthesis, the formation of carbonates in the ocean traps carbon from the atmosphere.
What has been called a carbon sink?
Trees absorb carbon dioxide (when talking about a "carbon sink", it means the carbon as any form).
Which removes carbon dioxide from the atmosphere acting as a carbon sink?
Formation of carbonates in the ocean* Formation of carbonates in the ocean * Any green plants, so forests, rainforests, timber plantations.Photosynthesis.
What is carbon sink?
Trees absorb carbon dioxide (when talking about a "carbon sink", it means the carbon as any form).
Which is the largest sink of carbon dioxide on earth?
oceans
When a plant uses carbon dioxide and sunlight to grow it behaves as a?
Carbon Sink
What is an examples of carbon sink?
The ocean. Limestone.
How did the oceans reduce the carbon dioxide levels?
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.
Where do trees get carbon dioxide?
Trees absorb carbon dioxide from the air through photosynthesis. They remove and store the carbon and release the oxygen back into the atmosphere. A forest of trees is thus called a carbon sink.
Why could you that plants are a sink for carbon?
Plants take in carbon from carbon dioxide in the air and convert it to carbohydrates and keep it with them.
Why could you say plants are a sink for carbon?
Plants take in carbon from carbon dioxide in the air and convert it to carbohydrates and keep it with them.
