Intense global warming could shut down the ocean’s ability to soak up CO2, leading to accelerated warming. The decline happens due to a surface layer of low-alkalinity water that emerges during extreme warming, hindering absorption of CO2. Today, the oceans soak up about a third of the emissions humans generate. The oceans’ ability to soak up carbon dioxide could peak by 2100, becoming only half as efficient at absorbing it by 2300. Previous climate simulations had shown that the oceans slow their absorption of CO2 over time, but none considered alkalinity as an explanation, showing that the climate change problem may be exacerbated by things previously unknown.
Climate Crisis Blog
