Question

Carbon dioxide diffuses into the ocean carbon cycle via the air-sea surface exchange. Molecules of CO2 enter the ocean by diffusing into the surface waters and dissolving. The amount of CO2 that diffuses and dissolves in the surface water depends on several variables. Scientists have noted that sea more CO2 diffuses and dissolves in colder sea surface water and less CO2 diffuses and dissolves in warmer water. Let's assume the predictions of scientists predicting a warming climate are true. Can you predict the outcome if average ocean temperatures increase as well? Include the effects on appropriate components of the biosphere as well as the hydrosphere.

Answer 1

This phenomenon is what we would call a positive feedback loop. Climate change is caused by increasing concentrations of greenhouse gas in the atmosphere, primarily carbon dioxide. Climate change is causing an increase in air temperature, which will increase the ocean water temperature. Warmer ocean water results in less carbon dioxide dissolving from out of the atmosphere into the ocean water. This in turn means that more carbon dioxide remains in the atmosphere, which increases global warming, which increases the temperature of the ocean, and so on. These sorts of positive feedback loops are regarded by scientists as highly problematic, as they may cause much more rapid change than predicted if the feedback loops are not identified. Another similar feedback loop is that of permafrost. Permafrost is permanently frozen soil that is found near the poles. This soil contains stored carbon in the form of ancient organic matter. As these soils defrost because of climate change, they release carbon to the atmosphere, which in turn speeds up climate change. An ironic positive feedback loop is the melting of ice at the North Pole because of climate change. This melting is opening up the north pole for increased oil exploration. The harvesting of oil from the North Pole will obviously result in the consumption of fossil fuels and increased climate change.