Premium
Limiting future atmospheric carbon dioxide
Author(s) -
Sarmiento Jorge L.,
Le Quéré Corinne,
Pacala Stephen W.
Publication year - 1995
Publication title -
global biogeochemical cycles
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.512
H-Index - 187
eISSN - 1944-9224
pISSN - 0886-6236
DOI - 10.1029/94gb01779
Subject(s) - biosphere , environmental science , carbon dioxide , carbon dioxide in earth's atmosphere , atmospheric carbon cycle , atmospheric sciences , limiting , carbon fibers , carbon sink , atmospheric chemistry , environmental chemistry , carbon respiration , chemistry , carbon sequestration , negative carbon dioxide emission , oceanography , climate change , ozone , ecology , materials science , geology , mechanical engineering , organic chemistry , composite number , engineering , composite material , biology
We estimate anthropogenic carbon emissions required to stabilize future atmospheric CO 2 at various levels ranging from 350 ppm to 750 ppm. Over the next three centuries, uptake by the ocean and terrestrial biosphere would permit emissions to be 3 to 6 times greater than the total atmospheric increase, with each of them contributing approximately equal amounts. Owing to the nonlinear dependence of oceanic and terrestrial biospheric uptake on CO 2 concentration, the uptake by these two sinks decreases substantially at higher atmospheric CO 2 levels. The uptake also decreases with increased atmospheric CO 2 growth rate. All the stabilization scenarios require a substantial future reduction in emissions.