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Invisible Scum on Sea Cuts CO2 Exchange With Air 'By Up To 50%' (theguardian.com)

Posted by msmash on from the how-about-that dept.

An invisible layer of scum on the sea surface can reduce carbon dioxide exchange between the atmosphere and the oceans by up to 50%, scientists have discovered. From a report: Researchers from Heriot-Watt, Newcastle and Exeter universities say the findings, published in the journal Nature Geoscience on Monday, have major implications for predicting our future climate. The world's oceans absorb around a quarter of all man-made carbon dioxide emissions, making them the largest long-term sink of carbon on Earth. Greater sea turbulence increases gas exchange between the atmosphere and oceans and until now it was difficult to calculate the effect of "biological surfactants." Teams from the Natural Environment Research Council, the Leverhulme Trust and the European Space Agency developed a system that compares "the surfactant effect" between different seawaters in real time. They found surfactants can reduce carbon dioxide exchange by up to 50%.

2 of 94 comments (clear)

  1. Before now... by thatseattleguy · · Score: 5, Funny
    Before now, we thought the only type of scum causing rising CO2 levels was located in Washington DC.

    Yea science!

  2. Re:This does nothing. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Funny

    Climate cycles are controlled by the Sun and we're at the beginning of a cooling cycle. All the farting in the world is not going to change that.

    Sorry to respond to myself .....

    I have done extensive - extensive - research on Fox News and listen to every political talk radio show host. They all know better than ANY Climate so-called "scientist". We all know that Sean Hannity knows more than ANYBODY!

    Why just the other day it RAINED where I live! It wouldn't have RAINED in Spring if Global Warming were true! Global Warming says that I'd be living in a dessert now! With chocolate and whipped cream!

    I'm done with you Liberal Snowflakes who get your "facts" out of your ass! I have to do research on this "Stormy Daniels" person that all the Liberal Lamestream media is harping about. And run out and get another box of tissues because of my allergies.