Problem
Falling rate of carbon sequestration
Other Names:
Depleted capacity of global carbon buffersReduced uptake of carbon dioxide
Nature:
Between 40 and 60 percent of all anthropogenic emissions of carbon dioxide appear to remain in the atmosphere. The remainder of the excess (about 4 gigatonnes of carbon per year (GtC/year)) is sequestered within the global carbon cycle – where and by what processes is still not clear. A variety of studies into ocean carbon fluxes cautiously support earlier estimates for a net ocean sink in the order of 2 GtC/year, although estimates vary between 1.4 and 3 GtC/year. "Biological pumping" to deep oceans, and incorporation in forests and soils (carbon dioxide fertilization effect) provide for other carbon dioxide sinks. However, the geographical and seasonal distributions of ocean carbon sources and sinks are complex and can vary significantly with year-to-year climate variability.
Broader Problems:
Decline Narrower Problems:
Harmful carbon dioxide impact on agriculture Related Problems:
Exploitation of fossil fuels Aggravates:
Increasing atmospheric carbon dioxide Strategies:
Planting forests for carbon sequestrationStudying global warmingReducing atmospheric carbon dioxide concentrations Subject(s):
Commerce → PropertyFundamental Sciences → Inorganic chemical compounds
Fundamental Sciences → Non-metallic chemical elements
Industry → Manufacturing processes
International Relations → Planetary initiatives
Societal Problems → Inadequacy
Related UN Sustainable Development Goals:
Problem Type:
E: Emanations of other problems Date of last update
04.10.2020 – 22:48 CEST