Re: Off Topic: NMD/Environment was: (Re: Ada and the NMD)

[Jacob Sparre Andersen <sparre@nbi.dk>]

[ XFUT sci.environment ]

James:

[ solubility of CO2 in water ]

> This does not imply that the oceans can rapidly dissolve all excess
> CO2 in the atmosphere. It does, however debunk the concept that
> increased atmospheric temperatures will trigger a release of
> dissolved CO2 in the oceans.

I think somebody may have misunderstood something regarding
release of greenhouse gasses from the oceans due to
increasing temperature.

It is suspected (I am not aware of any reasonably certain
proofs) that there are large amounts of methane ice stored
below the ocean seafloor. The short-term effect of global
heating should be increased precipitation in the arctic
areas, which means _lower_ sea-levels, and thus lower
pressure at the seafloor. The pressure might thus become too
low for keeping methane in frozen form in some of the
reservoirs, which would result in release of methane into
the atmosphere. (definitely lots of if's)

Jacob
-- 
"There are only two types of data:
                         Data which has been backed up
                         Data which has not been lost - yet"