A global report released this week on changing carbon dioxide levels in Earth’s atmosphere, oceans, and land environment draws heavily from data and observations by NOAA research scientists and their partners. More at go.usa.gov/dRrQ For the first time, it uses data obtained from autonomous instruments installed by NOAA scientists on NOAA ships, ships of opportunity and moorings to determine the variability of carbon dioxide in the surface ocean. NOAA works with ship operators from academic institutions and private industry, including cargo and cruise ships, who voluntarily install automated systems that record carbon dioxide data. Photos: 1) NOAA Ship Ronald H. Brown was the first ship to carry the system developed by NOAA scientists to measure carbon dioxide at the surface of the ocean. 2) Tracks of vessels in NOAA’s Ship of Opportunity program which has installed automated surface water carbon dioxide measuring systems on vessels to measure carbon dioxide at the oceans surface. Yellow and red indicate areas where carbon dioxide is released from the ocean (carbon dioxide sources to the atmosphere) and green and blue show areas where carbon dioxide is sequestered by the ocean (sinks of atmospheric carbon dioxide).
Posted on: Thu, 25 Sep 2014 14:36:57 +0000