A world map indicating acidity in worlds oceans. One of the most critical jobs the oceans have is to store carbon. The oceans contain the largest reactive pool of carbon on the planet, and without the benefit of carbon storage in the oceans, the current atmospheric carbon dioxide levels would be at least 25% higher than they are today. Carbon in the form of carbon dioxide can be removed from the atmosphere when absorbed by the ocean through a physical process called diffusion.

Subject: 
Chemistry
Climate Change
Marine
Grade Level Range: 
High School (9-12)