|
Ocean Plankton absorbing less CO2
31/Aug/2006: US researchers have found that the phytoplankton (microbic plants) in the Pacific Ocean has been absorbing far less atmospheric carbon dioxide than the previous estimates.
They have attributed this to the lack of iron deposits in the ocean, which provides nutrients to the phytoplankton. The lack of iron supply to the planktons has hindered their growth, forcing them to absorb lesser atmospheric carbon dioxide.
The findings have been published in the science journal ‘Nature’.
Earlier about 50 billion tonnes of atmospheric carbon dioxide was estimated to be absorbed by the world’s oceans every year but the current findings could lower this estimate by 4%.
Phytoplankton have an important role to play in world’s carbon cycle as about half the earth’s total photosynthesis is being carried out by the phytoplankton. Apart from this phytoplankton along with zooplankton form the base of the ocean’s food web.
This reduction in absorption of atmospheric carbon dioxide may have dire effects in the future, as more and more carbon dioxide gets accumulated in the atmosphere worsening the effects of global warming.
|
 Eco
Features
Eco
Guides
Health
& Lifestyle
Mail
This Page
Link
To Us
Bookmark
Archives
 Recent Articles
Cows contribute to global warming!
New treatment for acne scars
Researchers develop a novel treatment for dementia
Ovulation influence women’s lifestyle
Fighting global warming could benefit world economies
|
