Antarctic ice breakup makes ocean absorb more CO2

[Robert]

Not sure quite what to make of this one:

http://www.theregister.co.uk/2011/03/29 ... ton_boost/

The US National Science Foundation (NSF) which funded the iceberg study, describes the results as having "global implications for climate research".

"These new findings... confirm that icebergs contribute yet another, previously unsuspected, dimension of physical and biological complexity to polar ecosystems," says Roberta Marinelli, director of the NSF's Antarctic Organisms and Ecosystems Program.

A team of NSF-funded scientists examined the effects on an area of the Weddell Sea of a large (20 mile long) berg moving through, melting as it went and diluting the salty sea water - also adding key nutrients carried from the land. They found that after the iceberg had passed, levels of CO2 had plunged and much more chlorophyll was present. Chlorophyll is the substance in green plants which lets them suck in nasty CO2 and emit precious life-giving oxygen: in the Weddell Sea it was present in phytoplankton, tiny seagoing plantoids which are thought to account for half the carbon removed from the atmosphere globally.

The scientists say that more and more icebergs are set to be found in the seas around the Anatarctic as more ice breaks off the shelves attached to the peninsula which reaches up from the polar continent towards South America. This should mean more phytoplankton and thus less CO2.

So, maybe climate change will cure itself.... ;-)

Of course, if you're one of those on here who don't accept climate change is occurring, then this science finding is as absurd as argueing over what colour pants God wears appears to an atheist.

 

[cecilia]

esp as some of us spell "colour" as "color"

:roflmao:



the stuff about the ice melting in the oceans, on the other hand is quite interesting

 

[cecilia]

the real reaction from the anti-science people is that this will be interpreted as another "excuse" to NOT take responsibility for their actions.

ie, THEY don't have to do anything about their polluting actions because mommy earth will "take care of it" - it's easier to be an infant than an adult.

 

[faethor]

the real reaction from the anti-science people is that this will be interpreted as another "excuse" to NOT take responsibility for their actions.

ie, THEY don't have to do anything about their polluting actions because mommy earth will "take care of it" - it's easier to be an infant than an adult.

God said after the flood he'd never again destroy the earth. Obviously the Jesoid Republican didn't make it to the book Revelation where the world is destroyed.