Ocean-Atmosphere Exchange
How oceans absorb and release CO₂, and why this matters for climate change
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Section 4 of 5The Ocean: Earth's Largest Carbon Sink
The ocean is the largest carbon sink on Earth, absorbing about 25% of human CO₂ emissions. This happens through both physical and biological processes. However, climate change is making oceans less effective at absorbing CO₂, creating a dangerous feedback loop.
Physical Absorption
Chemical dissolution of CO₂ in seawater
- • Governed by Henry's Law
- • Cold water absorbs more CO₂
- • Creates carbonic acid
- • Forms bicarbonate ions
Biological Pump
Marine organisms capture and store carbon
- • Phytoplankton photosynthesis
- • Carbon export to deep ocean
- • Marine food webs
- • Shell formation (calcium carbonate)
Interactive Ocean CO₂ Calculator
Ocean CO₂ Absorption Rate
Henry's Law
CO₂ dissolves better in cold water. Warmer oceans release CO₂ back to the atmosphere, creating a feedback loop.
Ocean Acidification
Excess CO₂ makes oceans more acidic, harming marine life and reducing the ocean's ability to absorb more CO₂.
The Feedback Loop
Warming oceans release stored CO₂, reducing their absorption capacity. This creates a feedback loop where climate change makes the problem worse by weakening the ocean's ability to help solve it.