(01-07-2010 06:26 PM)smn1256 Wrote:  Hundreds gather to protest global warming!!!!

I realize the article was about atmospheric CO2 levels, but what about the oceans' CO2 levels? Even if the oceans', trees', etc, ability to absorb CO2 has not changed, if levels of CO2 in those CO2 sinks rise, at some point, they wouldn't be able to retain the same levels of emitted CO2. The fact that that hasn't happened yet doesn't mean that it won't. It probably means that atmospheric CO2 has not influenced the climate yet. Can the oceans' CO2 levels influence the climate? CO2 levels can affect coral and other life that depends on the coral reefs. But that's a different issue.

(01-08-2010 02:39 PM)NIU007 Wrote:  I realize the article was about atmospheric CO2 levels, but what about the oceans' CO2 levels? Even if the oceans', trees', etc, ability to absorb CO2 has not changed, if levels of CO2 in those CO2 sinks rise, at some point, they wouldn't be able to retain the same levels of emitted CO2. The fact that that hasn't happened yet doesn't mean that it won't. It probably means that atmospheric CO2 has not influenced the climate yet. Can the oceans' CO2 levels influence the climate? CO2 levels can affect coral and other life that depends on the coral reefs. But that's a different issue.

Yes, those sinks are an important part of the entire system. However, there is an equilibrium that is maintained between what's in the atmosphere and what's in the water. So, as one level rises, the other does too.

As it is, the phenomenon you're asking about is approximated by Henry's Law. I looked this up after finding this article, and if I read the Henry's Law Constant correctly, the equillibrium between dissolved CO2 and gas-phase CO2 heavily favors the gas phase. Thus, you don't have a bunch of CO2 hiding in the ocean that will suddenly fill up and lead to dramatic rises in the air.

Now to be fair, this whole equillibrium changes dramatically w/ a change in pH (and Henry's law no longer applies). So if the oceans are getting more acidic b/c of the CO2 being dissolved, then their capacity to absorb more will go down.

That hasn't really been observed to date. Most concerns about CO2 are still w/ the temp impact (including on marine life).

(01-07-2010 06:26 PM)smn1256 Wrote:  Hundreds gather to protest global warming!!!!

That's hilarious.

(01-08-2010 03:50 PM)DrTorch Wrote:  

(01-08-2010 02:39 PM)NIU007 Wrote:  I realize the article was about atmospheric CO2 levels, but what about the oceans' CO2 levels? Even if the oceans', trees', etc, ability to absorb CO2 has not changed, if levels of CO2 in those CO2 sinks rise, at some point, they wouldn't be able to retain the same levels of emitted CO2. The fact that that hasn't happened yet doesn't mean that it won't. It probably means that atmospheric CO2 has not influenced the climate yet. Can the oceans' CO2 levels influence the climate? CO2 levels can affect coral and other life that depends on the coral reefs. But that's a different issue.

Yes, those sinks are an important part of the entire system. However, there is an equilibrium that is maintained between what's in the atmosphere and what's in the water. So, as one level rises, the other does too.

As it is, the phenomenon you're asking about is approximated by Henry's Law. I looked this up after finding this article, and if I read the Henry's Law Constant correctly, the equillibrium between dissolved CO2 and gas-phase CO2 heavily favors the gas phase. Thus, you don't have a bunch of CO2 hiding in the ocean that will suddenly fill up and lead to dramatic rises in the air.

Now to be fair, this whole equillibrium changes dramatically w/ a change in pH (and Henry's law no longer applies). So if the oceans are getting more acidic b/c of the CO2 being dissolved, then their capacity to absorb more will go down.

That hasn't really been observed to date. Most concerns about CO2 are still w/ the temp impact (including on marine life).

I have seen documentaries stating that the world's coral reefs are getting bleached, supposedly by more acidic ocean water. And if higher acid levels can reduce CO2 absorption, then that would certainly be a concern. I get the impression that higher acid levels have been observed, but I don't have any numbers on that.

(01-08-2010 04:19 PM)NIU007 Wrote:  I have seen documentaries stating that the world's coral reefs are getting bleached, supposedly by more acidic ocean water. And if higher acid levels can reduce CO2 absorption, then that would certainly be a concern. I get the impression that higher acid levels have been observed, but I don't have any numbers on that.

There is speculation on that. I did read recently (after this article) about coral reefs, and the articles I saw were still expressing concern over temp, saying the pH hadn't changed much.

The pH change being discussed comes from the dissolved, dissociated CO2...so it makes sense that if that were happening that less CO2 could be stored. But just for the record, regardless of the source, if the oceans become more acidic, less CO2 would dissolve in them.

(01-08-2010 04:37 PM)DrTorch Wrote:  

(01-08-2010 04:19 PM)NIU007 Wrote:  I have seen documentaries stating that the world's coral reefs are getting bleached, supposedly by more acidic ocean water. And if higher acid levels can reduce CO2 absorption, then that would certainly be a concern. I get the impression that higher acid levels have been observed, but I don't have any numbers on that.

There is speculation on that. I did read recently (after this article) about coral reefs, and the articles I saw were still expressing concern over temp, saying the pH hadn't changed much.

The pH change being discussed comes from the dissolved, dissociated CO2...so it makes sense that if that were happening that less CO2 could be stored. But just for the record, regardless of the source, if the oceans become more acidic, less CO2 would dissolve in them.

Here's one article. I think there was another study specific to the waters off the Northwest coast of the US.

http://www.usatoday.com/tech/science/200...dity_x.htm