Sources and Sinks

Question 1

How much CO2 was emitted each day during the 2010 Iceland eruption, and what percentage did this account for in terms of total global emissions?

Answer 1

150,000 tonnes of CO2 were emitted each day, accounting for 0.3% of total global emissions.

Question 2

Where is 90% of the planet’s carbon stored?

Answer 2

90% of the planet’s carbon is stored in the Earth.

Question 3

How much CO2 is emitted each year by volcanoes?

Answer 3

Between 280,000 and 300,000 tonnes of CO2 are emitted each year by volcanoes.

Question 4

How does the carbon content of the ocean compare to that of the atmosphere?

Answer 4

The ocean contains 50 times more carbon than the atmosphere.

Question 5

Where is 93% of the carbon stored in the ocean, and what form does it take?

Answer 5

93% of the carbon is stored in undersea algae, plants, and coral, with the rest being dissolved in the ocean.