Increases in the north-south gradient of
atmospheric CO2
at Northern Hemisphere measurement sites of the NOAA/CMDL Global Air Sampling
Network reveal a shrinking carbon sink.
14 of 16 low altitude sites show differences with South Pole increasing
at a faster rate than can be explained by fossil fuel emissions, resulting in
an average north-south difference at remote marine sites nearly 1 ppm larger in
2003 than in 1992. Regardless of whether
this trend will persist, it shows that large changes in the carbon cycle can
occur rapidly and is a strong indication of the tenuous nature of terrestrial
carbon sinks.
Author: J.B. Miller, P.P. Tans, J.W.C. White, et al (john dot b dot miller at noaa dot gov)
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