Art,
CO2 increases in the warming atmosphere corresponded to the very high
rate of planktonic calcareous algal growth (coccolithophores)  that left
huge chalk deposits in the Cretaceous seas.  CO2 also gets deposited as a
hydrate in bottom sediments in cold water conditions (which might start
reversing soon, causing a large increase in available CO2).

Allen Aigen  NYC
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On Fri, 16 Jul 2004 12:58:56 -0400 Paul Monfils <[log in to unmask]> writes:
> I don't know just what the article was referring to.  It is true
> that
> dissolving CO2 in water results in a very slightly acidic solution.
> However, this has been going on since early in the earth's history,
> and sea
> creatures have been producing shells without any apparent
> difficulty. Are
> they suggesting that more CO2 is dissolving now than in the past?
> It's a
> good thing that so much atmospheric CO2 does dissolve in the ocean,
> because
> photosynthesis by marine algae at the surface of the ocean is the
> primary
> source of oxygen for the planet.  Both marine and terrestrial life
> depend
> upon it.  If atmospheric CO2 didn't dissolve into the ocean, the
> only source
> of CO2 for marine algae to carry on photosynthesis would be
> respiration by
> marine animal life, and the volume of algae sustainable by that
> means alone
> would not be able to produce enough oxygen to sustain terrestrial
> life.
>
>
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: <[log in to unmask]>
> To: <[log in to unmask]>
> Sent: Friday, July 16, 2004 12:06 PM
> Subject: Question man
>
>
> > Hey all;-
> >     Report in todays paper says that about 50% of the CO2 in the
> atmosphere ends up in the oceans. It says this may affect the shells
> of sea
> critters. How will this happen? How does it happen? Is there a time
> line for
> panic? Has it happened before?
> >      Q-man
> >
> > PLEASE NOTE: My new, long-term, and correct email address is:
> [log in to unmask] Please update your records!
> >
> >
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