Increase in observed net carbon dioxide uptake by land and oceans during the past 50 years

• Published in: Nature (London) Vol. 488; no. 7409; pp. 70 - 72
• Main Authors: Ballantyne, A. P., Alden, C. B., Miller, J. B., Tans, P. P., White, J. W. C.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: London Nature Publishing Group UK 02.08.2012; Nature Publishing Group
• Subjects: 704/106/694; 704/172/169; Atmosphere; Atmosphere - chemistry; Budgets; Carbon - analysis; Carbon cycle; Carbon cycle (Biogeochemistry); Carbon dioxide; Carbon Dioxide - analysis; Carbon Dioxide - history; Carbon dioxide emissions; Carbon Sequestration; Carbon sinks; Climate change; Climate Change - statistics & numerical data; Climate prediction; Climatic changes; Climatology. Bioclimatology. Climate change; Earth, ocean, space; Emission inventories; Emissions; Environmental aspects; Estimates; Exact sciences and technology; External geophysics; Growth rate; History, 20th Century; History, 21st Century; Human Activities; Humanities and Social Sciences; Industrialized nations; Land use; letter; Meteorology; Models, Theoretical; multidisciplinary; Oceans; Oceans and Seas; Reservoirs; Science; Science (multidisciplinary); Seawater - chemistry; Studies; Time Factors; Trends; Uncertainty; United States; 1970-1980; time series analysis; trend-surface analysis; mass balance; Carbon dioxide; climate warming; 1960-1970; Source sink relationship; Carbon sequestration; greenhouse gas; Carbon sinks; 1990-2000; global change; 2000-2010; 1980-1990; climate change

A comprehensive carbon dioxide mass balance analysis shows that net global carbon uptake has increased by about 0.05 billion tonnes per year over the past 50 years and that in that time the global carbon uptake has almost doubled, making it unlikely that land and ocean carbon sinks have decreased on...