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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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What else can I help you with?
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".
Is the ocean currently acting as a carbon sink or a carbon source?
The ocean is currently acting as a carbon sink, absorbing more carbon dioxide than it releases into the atmosphere.
What process removes carbon dioxide from the atmosphere acting as a carbon sink?
Photosynthesis is a process that removes carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, acting as a carbon sink. During photosynthesis, plants absorb carbon dioxide and convert it into oxygen and glucose, which is then stored as biomass. This helps to reduce the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere, balancing the carbon cycle.
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.
Is the ocean primarily a sink or source of carbon in the Earth's carbon cycle?
The ocean is primarily a sink of carbon in the Earth's carbon cycle.
Does carbon dioxide sink or rise in the atmosphere?
Carbon dioxide rises in the atmosphere.
Can you identify whether each process is a carbon source or a carbon sink?
A carbon source is a process that releases carbon dioxide into the atmosphere, while a carbon sink is a process that absorbs and stores carbon dioxide.
What is the difference between a carbon source and a carbon sink in the context of the carbon cycle?
In the carbon cycle, a carbon source releases carbon dioxide into the atmosphere, while a carbon sink absorbs and stores carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.
What organisms in the ocean store the most carbon?
Phytoplankton and marine algae are the primary organisms in the ocean that store the most carbon through the process of photosynthesis. They absorb carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and convert it into organic carbon, which can be stored in their cells or sink to the ocean floor when they die.
What has been called a carbon sink?
Forests, oceans, and wetlands are commonly referred to as carbon sinks because they absorb and store carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, helping to mitigate climate change. These ecosystems play a crucial role in regulating the balance of carbon in the Earth's atmosphere.
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 are some of the ways that the ocean atmosphere and organisms might be connected through carbon?
Well, honey, let me break it down for you. Ocean atmosphere and organisms are like a dysfunctional family sharing carbon compounds. Phytoplankton slurp up carbon dioxide during photosynthesis, releasing oxygen in return. When these tiny critters die, they sink to the ocean floor, taking carbon with them. It's a wild carbon cycle party down there, darling.
Which is the largest sink of carbon dioxide on earth?
oceans
