90 gigatons
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.
The ocean removes carbon dioxide (CO2) from the atmosphere as part of the carbon cycle. This carbon recycles round and returns to the atmosphere again.Trees, forests and all growing vegetation remove CO2 from the atmosphere, release the oxygen, and store the carbon. If it is a long living tree, it can store that carbon for hundreds of years.
Mussels absorb carbon into their shells from the ocean water. The carbon is in the form of calcium carbonate, which mussels extract from the water to build their shells. When carbon dioxide in the atmosphere dissolves in the ocean, it forms carbonic acid, which can break down to release carbonate ions that mussels use to create their shells.
Atmospheric carbon dioxide levels are significantly higher than those in the ocean. As of recent measurements, the concentration of CO2 in the atmosphere is around 420 parts per million (ppm), while the ocean's surface water typically contains about 90-100 ppm of dissolved CO2. This difference is due to the ocean absorbing CO2 from the atmosphere, but the atmosphere remains the primary reservoir for this greenhouse gas. Thus, the atmosphere holds roughly four to five times more carbon dioxide than the ocean.
Oceans absorb carbon dioxide from the atmosphere through a process called carbon sequestration. Marine plants, such as phytoplankton, also capture carbon dioxide through photosynthesis. Additionally, when carbon dioxide dissolves in ocean water, it forms carbonic acid, which then reacts with minerals in the water to create bicarbonate ions, effectively storing the carbon.
Carbon moves from the atmosphere to the ocean through a process called carbon sequestration. This can happen through physical processes such as diffusion or ocean mixing, as well as biological processes like photosynthesis by phytoplankton. Carbon dioxide in the atmosphere dissolves in the ocean's surface waters, where it can then be stored for long periods of time.
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.
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.
Phytoplankton, tiny marine plants, play a crucial role in carbon capture in the ocean through photosynthesis. They absorb carbon dioxide from the water and atmosphere, converting it into organic carbon. When phytoplankton die or are eaten by other organisms, this organic carbon sinks to the ocean floor, effectively removing carbon from the atmosphere and storing it in the deep ocean. This process helps regulate the Earth's carbon cycle and mitigate climate change.
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.
The ocean removes carbon dioxide (CO2) from the atmosphere as part of the carbon cycle. This carbon recycles round and returns to the atmosphere again.Trees, forests and all growing vegetation remove CO2 from the atmosphere, release the oxygen, and store the carbon. If it is a long living tree, it can store that carbon for hundreds of years.
Mussels absorb carbon into their shells from the ocean water. The carbon is in the form of calcium carbonate, which mussels extract from the water to build their shells. When carbon dioxide in the atmosphere dissolves in the ocean, it forms carbonic acid, which can break down to release carbonate ions that mussels use to create their shells.
35% is obsorbed by ocean
The process is called gas exchange or specifically, in the case of carbon dioxide and oxygen, it is known as ocean-atmosphere gas exchange. This process is essential for maintaining the balance of gases between the ocean surface and the atmosphere.
Plankton
both cycles transfer either carbon or nitrogen from the ocean to the atmosphere or from the atmosphere to the ocean.
Oceans act as a carbon sink, in fact they are the largest carbon sink absorbing about 1/4 of the CO2 we put into the air. However, with global warming considering that CO2 dissolves better in cold water there is a worry that the oceans will not be able to hold as much CO2 and will begin to release it into the atmosphere