Variations with Time of the Carbon Dioxide Partial Pressure in Central and South Atlantic Surface Waters

摘要

Increasing levels of atmospheric carbon dioxide have been hypothesized to cause future gobal warming as a result of an enhanced greenhouse effect. Man is responsible for the addition of caron dioxide to the atmosphere through the burning of fossil fuels and the removal of vegetation from the continents. Future climatic changes caused by a global warming are of governmental concern because of their economic impact, and possible future restrictions on the use of fossil fuels are likely result. It has been suggested that the carbonate system in the oceans may act as a carbon dioxide sink by converting excessive atmospheric carbon dioxide to dissolved ions. The role of the oceans as a carbon dioxide sink has not been clearly established, however. A study of time variation of surface ocean carbon dioxide levels is necessary to determine whether or not the oceans absorb significant quantities of atmospheric carbon dioxide. Three existing data sets are used to construct time variation studies covering 9 and 15 year intervals. The resulting comparisons show that oceanic carbon dioxide levels do not consistently increase with time, although some significant increases are noted. One comparison suggests that the geographic location of local carbon dioxide sources and sinks may by changing with time. Studies covering a larger time interval are necessary to establish more clearly the response of the oceanic surface layer to increasing atmospheric carbon dioxide levels.