The Oceanic Sink for Anthropogenic CO 2
Pohang University of Science and Technology · Princeton University · +8 more institutions
Abstract
Using inorganic carbon measurements from an international survey effort in the 1990s and a tracer-based separation technique, we estimate a global oceanic anthropogenic carbon dioxide (CO2) sink for the period from 1800 to 1994 of 118 +/- 19 petagrams of carbon. The oceanic sink accounts for approximately 48% of the total fossil-fuel and cement-manufacturing emissions, implying that the terrestrial biosphere was a net source of CO2 to the atmosphere of about 39 +/- 28 petagrams of carbon for this period. The current fraction of total anthropogenic CO2 emissions stored in the ocean appears to be about one-third of the long-term potential.
Citation impact
- FWCI
- 68.23
- Percentile
- 100%
- References
- 18
Authors
15- CLChristopher L. SabineCorresponding
Pohang University of Science and Technology, Princeton University, NOAA Pacific Marine Environmental Laboratory, NOAA Atlantic Oceanographic and Meteorological Laboratories, Institute of Geophysics
- RARichard A. Feely
Pohang University of Science and Technology, Princeton University, NOAA Pacific Marine Environmental Laboratory, NOAA Atlantic Oceanographic and Meteorological Laboratories, Institute of Geophysics
- NGNicolas Gruber
Pohang University of Science and Technology, Princeton University, NOAA Pacific Marine Environmental Laboratory, NOAA Atlantic Oceanographic and Meteorological Laboratories, Institute of Geophysics
- RMRobert M. Key
Pohang University of Science and Technology, Princeton University, NOAA Pacific Marine Environmental Laboratory, NOAA Atlantic Oceanographic and Meteorological Laboratories, Institute of Geophysics
- KLKitack Lee
Pohang University of Science and Technology, Princeton University, NOAA Pacific Marine Environmental Laboratory, NOAA Atlantic Oceanographic and Meteorological Laboratories, Institute of Geophysics
Topics & keywords
- Sink (geography)
- Carbon sink
- Environmental science
- Biosphere
- Carbon dioxide
- Carbon cycle
- Fossil fuel
- Carbon fibers
- Life below water