# Oceans and forests absorb half our carbon emissions

> Oceans and forests have absorbed half our carbon emissions for decades, but can they keep up?
- Title: Oceans and forests absorb half our carbon emissions | Shortify
- Summary: Oceans and forests have absorbed half our carbon emissions for decades, but can they keep up?
- Keywords: oceans, forests, carbon emissions, climate change, carbon sinks, ocean sink, land sink, atmospheric oxygen, carbon dioxide, fossil fuels, climate science, The Conversation
- Source: The Conversation — https://theconversation.com/oceans-and-forests-have-absorbed-roughly-half-our-carbon-emissions-for-decades-slowing-climate-change-but-can-they-keep-it-up-296498
- Author: Andrew C. Manning
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: oceans, forests, carbon emissions, climate change, carbon sinks, ocean sink, land sink, atmospheric oxygen, carbon dioxide, fossil fuels, climate science, science
## Carbon sinks absorb human emissions
Oceans and land have absorbed billions of tons of carbon dioxide emissions from burning fossil fuels over two centuries.
## Oceans absorb 35% of emissions since 1990
The world’s oceans have absorbed 35% of carbon dioxide emissions from fossil fuels since 1990, according to new research.
## Forests absorb 13% of emissions
Forests and other plants have absorbed another 13% of carbon dioxide emissions from fossil fuels since 1990.
## Carbon sinks slow climate change
These natural carbon sinks have slowed climate change by absorbing carbon dioxide emissions from human activities.
## Oceans' absorption rate may slow
New research suggests the ocean’s increasing absorption of carbon dioxide may begin to slow in the coming decades.
## Land sink shows no growth
The land carbon sink has not been expanding, which was a surprising finding for researchers.
## Measuring carbon sinks is difficult
Measuring how much carbon oceans and forests absorb is devilishly difficult and prohibitively expensive due to varying conditions.
## Oxygen method measures sinks
Scientists used high-precision atmospheric oxygen measurements to quantify how oceans and forests absorb carbon dioxide.
## Oceans absorb more than models predict
The ocean carbon sink has absorbed more carbon dioxide than most computer models predicted over the past three decades.
## Warmer oceans hold less carbon
Warmer waters cannot hold as much carbon dioxide or mix effectively with deeper ocean layers to lock carbon away.
## Carbon models need improvement
Computer models for carbon sinks vary widely and do not match real-world observations as they should.
## Scientists need better tools
Combining atmospheric oxygen measurements, ocean studies, computer models and satellites will improve understanding of carbon sinks.
## Key takeaway

Oceans and forests absorbed 35% and 13% of fossil fuel emissions since 1990, but their capacity to slow climate change may decline as oceans warm.