Oceans sink less CO2

A decade-long study is showing that the world’s oceans are soaking up less carbon dioxide, which could speed up global warming, say researchers from the University of East Anglia in the United Kingdom.

According to Reuters, the scientists found that the North Atlantic Ocean had soaked up about half as much CO2 between 2002 and 2005 as it had during the mid-’90s. Additional research found the CO2 uptake by the Southern Atlantic had also slowed, though not as severely. The findings of the study are the result of measurements taken by merchant ships fitted with special carbon-detecting equipment.

As a result, the scientists expect CO2 levels in the atmosphere to rise more quickly, making the climate warm faster. The researchers’ findings are scheduled for release next month in the Journal of Geophysical Research.