Book contents
- Frontmatter
- Contents
- Dedication to Hans Oeschger
- List of Contributors
- Preface
- Introduction
- 1 The Antarctic Ozone Hole, a Human-Caused Chemical Instability in the Stratosphere: What Should We Learn from It?
- PART ONE THE ANTHROPOGENIC PROBLEM
- 2 Feedbacks and Interactions between Global Change, Atmospheric Chemistry, and the Biosphere
- 3 Atmospheric CO2 Variations: Response to Natural and Anthropogenic Earth System Forcings
- 4 Modeling and Evaluating Terrestrial Biospheric Exchanges of Water, Carbon Dioxide, and Oxygen in the Global Climate System
- 5 Carbon Futures
- PART TWO THE HUMAN PERSPECTIVE
- PART THREE MODELING THE EARTH'S SYSTEM
- PART FOUR INFORMATION FROM THE PAST
- PART FIVE HOW TO MEET THE CHALLENGE
- Index
- Plate section
5 - Carbon Futures
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 04 August 2010
- Frontmatter
- Contents
- Dedication to Hans Oeschger
- List of Contributors
- Preface
- Introduction
- 1 The Antarctic Ozone Hole, a Human-Caused Chemical Instability in the Stratosphere: What Should We Learn from It?
- PART ONE THE ANTHROPOGENIC PROBLEM
- 2 Feedbacks and Interactions between Global Change, Atmospheric Chemistry, and the Biosphere
- 3 Atmospheric CO2 Variations: Response to Natural and Anthropogenic Earth System Forcings
- 4 Modeling and Evaluating Terrestrial Biospheric Exchanges of Water, Carbon Dioxide, and Oxygen in the Global Climate System
- 5 Carbon Futures
- PART TWO THE HUMAN PERSPECTIVE
- PART THREE MODELING THE EARTH'S SYSTEM
- PART FOUR INFORMATION FROM THE PAST
- PART FIVE HOW TO MEET THE CHALLENGE
- Index
- Plate section
Summary
ABSTRACT
In this chapter I summarize my views as to where we stand with regard to our knowledge of the way in which the fossil fuel CO2 we release has distributed and will distribute itself among the atmosphere, ocean, and terrestrial biosphere reservoirs. I also make the case that during the next two decades, we must carefully explore all the aspects of purposeful disposal of fossil fuel-derived CO2 both on the sea floor and in deep continental reservoirs.
Introduction
The Kyoto Protocols have enhanced the interest of researchers regarding the fate of the CO2 produced as a result of fossil fuel burning. In particular, attention has been focused on the forces driving excess storage of carbon in the terrestrial biosphere. This is indeed an important research thrust, but in my opinion, these protocols direct too much attention to the next few decades when, instead, we should be thinking in terms of a century or more, for it is on this time scale that the most serious threats posed by the ongoing build-up of greenhouse gases are likely to be manifested. What will matter 70 to 130 years from now will be the CO2, CH4, and N2O contents of the atmosphere rather than the shape of the path by which these levels are achieved. In the scramble to meet the Kyoto limits, countries will be tempted to resort to promises of expanded storage of carbon in forests.
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- Geosphere-Biosphere Interactions and Climate , pp. 66 - 80Publisher: Cambridge University PressPrint publication year: 2001
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