https://phys.org/news/2022-08-oceans-absorb-co2.html
Phytoplankton need light and nutrients to grow. The microscopic algae rarely find both at the same time in sufficient quantities in the ocean…A new study led by the Helmholtz Center Hereon now says: Phytoplankton can migrate back and forth between deeper layers and the water surface. If this were confirmed, it would have enormous consequences for the calculations of the natural carbon pump and thus for current calculations of the carbon budget.
Seas and the ocean are one of our largest carbon sinks. Every year, they absorb about 30% of the CO2 produced by humans and thereby remove it from the atmosphere…“Previous models treat phytoplankton as passive particles, while a lot of evidence suggests that it actively migrates to take up carbon in upper layers via photosynthesis and to store nutrients in lower layers,” says Kai Wirtz…
According to the calculations of the team of authors…by 2100 about 40 gigatons more CO2 per year would be absorbed than current climate models predict. This corresponds to sixty times the carbon emissions of Germany and thus roughly 10% of our carbon budget. That would significantly adjust the world’s climate account upward.
Highest coral cover in central, northern Reef in 36 years www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2022/08/220803162710.htm
The northern and central Great Barrier Reef have recorded their highest amount of coral cover since the Australian Institute of Marine Science (AIMS) began monitoring 36 years ago. However, average coral cover in the southern region decreased due to ongoing crown-of-thorns starfish outbreaks.
“Previous models treat phytoplankton as passive particles, while a lot of evidence suggests that it actively migrates to take up carbon in upper layers via photosynthesis and to store nutrients in lower layers,” says Kai Wirtz…
When they die they sink to the bottom of the ocean. That’s how the White Cliffs of Dover were built…
Chalk is a soft, white, porous, sedimentary carbonate rock. It is a form of limestone composed of the mineral calcite and originally formed deep under the sea by the compression of microscopic plankton that had settled to the sea floor. Chalk is common throughout Western Europe, where deposits underlie parts of France, and steep cliffs are often seen where they meet the sea in places such as the Dover cliffs on the Kent coast of the English Channel.
Chalk is typically almost pure calcite, CaCO3, with just 2% to 4% of other minerals.
This corresponds to sixty times the carbon emissions of Germany and thus roughly 10% of our carbon budget. That would significantly adjust the world’s climate account upward.
That is not saying much because China, USA and India emissions are huge compared to the small CO2 emissions by Germany:
Total CO2 in Mt in 2020
China — 11680.42 which is 18.3 times > Germany
United States — 4535.30 is 7.1 times > Germany
India — 2411.73 which is 3.8 times > Germany
Russia — 1674.23
Japan — 1061.77
Iran — 690.24
Germany — 636.88
South Korea — 621.47
Saudi Arabia — 588.81
Indonesia — 568.27
Canada - 542.79
10% is a significant input to the model. What would be even more interesting would be the % change in the cycle as CO2 goes up or down as a % of the atmosphere.
Missing a constant is a grave error. Missing a factor is even more egregious to the accuracy of a model.
10% is a significant input to the model. What would be even more interesting would be the % change in the cycle as CO2 goes up or down as a % of the atmosphere.
Over the past few decades as CO2 has increased and things have warmed the percentage of carbon dioxide absorbed has remained pretty much constant. Try searching for ‘airborne fraction’.
