C1 7.6 Carbon dioxide in the atmosphere

What has recently increased the levels of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere ?

Burning fossil fuels

Most of the electricity we use in the UK is made by burning fossil fuels. This releases carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. One solution is to pump the carbon dioxide produced in the power stations deep underground to be absorbed by porous rocks. What is this called ?

Carbon capture and storage

The oceans and plants are often called what ?

Carbon dioxide sinks

What signs are there that the oceans are struggling to cope with the increased levels of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere ?

Coral reefs are dying are dying in the more acidic conditions caused by excess dissolved carbon dioxide.

Over the past 200 million years the levels of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere have not changed much. Why ?

The oceans act as massive reservoirs of carbon dioxide. They absorb CO₂ when it is produced and release it when it is in short supply. Plants also remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.