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Earth Releasing More CO2 Than Originally Thought

Posted by CowboyNeal on from the heavy-breathing dept.

grqb writes "A new study out of the UK suggests that terrestrial sinks across the planet are mopping up much less carbon than predicted, on balance, and so the planet may warm at an even faster rate than expected. The study focused on the carbon content in soil at 6000 sites in the UK between 1978 and 2003 and found that the soil released the equivalent of 8% of the UK's total 1990 carbon dioxide emissions. These emissions are more than the entire reduction in emissions the UK has achieved between 1990 and 2002 as part of its commitment to the Kyoto Protocol. This would effectively cancel out the UK's recent successes in reducing greenhouse gas emissions, and would have wider global implications as well."

10 of 318 comments (clear)

  1. That's it... by tinrobot · · Score: 4, Funny

    I'm buying land in warm, sunny Alaska.

    Well... it'll be sunny and warm by the time I retire.

    1. Re:That's it... by Klivian · · Score: 2, Funny

      I'm buying land in warm, sunny Alaska.

      Well... it'll be sunny and warm by the time I retire.

      Don't forget to bring your anti-radiation-suite, the hole in the ozone layer will be bigger by that time too.

  2. I know the world is slowly being destroyed ... by improbablecause · · Score: 2, Funny

    ... but I'm not going to hold my breath to save it!

  3. Maybe by Saiyaman · · Score: 2, Funny

    Maybe the Earth wants CO2 to be released, so it is upping the CO2 in soil. Or the Earth wants to kill us by ridding us of precious O2.

  4. Re:Cant WE mop up some of the CO2? by Rakshasa+Taisab · · Score: 5, Funny

    1) Plant a tree.
    2) ...
    3) Profit.

    This ofcourse assumes you don't burn them later on.

    --
    - These characters were randomly selected.
  5. "Science" by dirtstar · · Score: 3, Funny
    As part of the Bush administration, I don't believe in this "Science" you speak of.

    Obviously the climate change is due to God's anger with various countries allowing gay marriages.

    I firmly believe this can be stopped by giving tax cuts to the wealthy.

    --
    I want to walk the Earth and kick ass where needed, like Cain from the TV show Kung-Fu.
  6. In other news by bigpat · · Score: 2, Funny

    Slashdottings contribute to .023% increase in CO2 emmissions due to increased power consumption.

    However, the sedentary nature of its readers cancels out this effect.

  7. Re:Humans are a disease. by Starker_Kull · · Score: 2, Funny

    You know, you probably already know about this website, but if not, I think you would appreciate it....

    http://ned.ucam.org/~sdh31/misc/destroy.html

    Hope it gives you a laugh!

    Cheers,

  8. Re:if this is true... by Elbow+Macaroni · · Score: 2, Funny

    Bush's response to Hurricane Katrina proves to me without a doubt, that the man is a serial killer.

    Evidence:

    1. Lots of executions in Texas.
    2. World Trade Center (somehow it is just too convenient).
    3. The b.s. war on terror, and Iraq.
    4. Delay of 6 days before allowing any aid in.

    I seriously doubt he gives a damn about the planet in any way. I think he would like it if more people died.

    So there's nothing we can do we are all doomed by the whack job who runs the US government.

    --
    -------------------------------------
    Technically, we are beyond survival.
  9. ...and I thought it was all the cow flatulence... by FredThompson · · Score: 2, Funny

    Dirty farts?