Ocean's CO2 absorption rate slows down, evidencing global warming's advance

By Armando Duke

Houston - Researchers say that the rate of absorption of CO2 in the Southern hemisphere is slowing at an alarming rate as the Southern Polar Ocean is not aborbing Carbon Dioxide from the atmosphere as fast as it used to, evidence that global warming is taking its toll.

Ocean waters around Antarctica have always absorbed Carbon Dioxide, acting like a giant sponge, sucking the CO2 from the atmosphere. That cycle has kept the Earth cool, but evidence shows its slowing and with it comes higher temperatures which make up the phenomena we call "global warming".

As man-made CO2 emissions rise, scientists had hoped that the Ocean would increase its natural ability to absorb them, but a recent study revealed that's not the case and climate change is beginning to win out.

Ocean Emissions is up 0.2 billion tons because the ocean itself is emitting more carbon, research say.

Deep carbon dense water is rising to the surface, aided by stronger wind currents which increases the ocean currents in return, bringing carbon dense water to the surface where the CO2 is released into the atmosphere - actually adding to the rise in CO2 levels.

The balance is delicate, so much so that as the Ocean temperatures rise, it lowers the water's ability to absorb carbon dioxide.

Scientist say the tables are near turning, building up to a point where there is more CO2 being released than the Ocean is absorbing and that will add to global warming.