Question

Scientists are very curious about the carbon cycle and how much carbon dioxide the ocean can hold. Why?

Answer 1

The carbon cycle

Explanation:

Natural processes continuously transport enormous amounts of carbon back and forth among the atmosphere, biosphere, and the oceans. The oceans absorb approximately 90 Gigatons of carbon per year and store almost all of this amount in the form of bicarbonate ions, but some becomes part of the marine food chain.

Increasing industrial activities (e.g. cement production), change in land use (eradicating forests, expanding urban areas, etc.) and burning fossil fuels (natural gas, coal and petroleum, etc.) add extra carbon dioxide to the atmosphere, During he 1990s, such activities previously mentioned added 8.5 gigatons carbon per year to the atmosphere. The oceans removed 2.4 gigatons carbon per year and the terrestrial areas removed 2.9 gigatons carbon per year. Based on these figures, atmospheric net gain is 3.2 gigatons carbon per year (that is why carbon dioxide has been increasing passed 400 ppm recently).

Reference:

Masters, G. M. and Ela, W. P. (2008) Introduction to Environmental Engineering and Science. Pearson International Education. Upper Saddle River, NJ, USA.