Essential role of carbon sinks

World Meteorological Organization (WMO) Secretary-General Michel Jarraud noted that “These billions of tonnes of additional carbon dioxide in our atmosphere will remain there for centuries, causing our planet to warm further and impacting on all aspects of life on earth’’. He added that “Future emissions will only compound the situation.”

Until now, Carbon sinks adsorbed about half of the carbon dioxide that was emitted in the atmosphere by humans but this will not certainly continue in the future. The oceans are becoming more acidic due to carbon dioxide uptake from underwater food chain and coral reefs. There are a lot of interactions between Greenhouse gas, biosphere and ocean; therefore, we need more monitoring capability and scientific knowledge to understand better how to find the right solution.

According to the measurements that were done by more than 50 countries, accurate information is available about Greenhouse gas concentrations, sinks and chemical transformations in the atmosphere.

The role of carbon sinks is essential in the overall carbon equation. If additional CO2 emissions are stored in reservoirs such as the deep oceans, it could be surrounded for hundreds or even thousands of years. By contrast, new forests retain carbon in the short period.

Carbon dioxide is a main element of Greenhouse gas; it traps radiation within the Earth’s atmosphere and causes it to warm. Therefore, human activities such as fossil fuel burning and tropical deforestation are the main source of CO2 emissions. Other sources for Greenhouse gas comes from Methane and Nitrous Oxide. There is a direct relation between increasing CO2 emissions and climate change. Approximately, Greenhouse gas has increased from 30% to 80% throughout 1990 to 2011 and CO2 emissions is the main part of this increase (see breakdown below).

Carbon dioxide (CO2)

• Emission by human activity.
• The main element in climate change (About 85%).
• The amount of CO2 in the atmosphere reached 390.9 parts per million in 2011, or 140% of the pre-industrial level of 280 parts per million.
• The amount of CO2 in the atmosphere has increased on average by 2 parts per million per year for the past 10 years.

Methane (CH4)

• About 40% is emitted into atmosphere by wetlands, termites and other natural sources.
• 60% comes from activities like cattle breeding, rice agriculture, fossil fuel exploitation, landfills and biomass burning.
• Methane reached about 1813 parts per billion (ppb) in atmosphere  in 2011, or about 259% of the pre-industrial level, in regards to increased emissions from anthropogenic sources.

Nitrous oxide (N2O)

• It is emitted into the atmosphere from both natural (about 60%) and anthropogenic sources (approximately 40%), including oceans, soil, biomass burning, fertilizer use, and various industrial processes.
•  In 2011 it was about 324.2 parts per billion that is 1.0 ppb beyond the previous year and 120% of the pre-industrial level.
•  It effects the Environment 298 times greater than equal emission of carbon dioxide.
•  It plays a significant role in the demolition of the stratospheric ozone layer which protects us from dangerous ultraviolet rays of the sun.

Categorised in: EPA