As climate change is bound to have a negative affect on food production globally, a front page report in The Times of 18th May 07 makes disturbing reading. Lewis Smith writes, “The oceans are losing the capacity to soak up rising man-made emissions, which is increasing the rate of global warming by up to 30%, scientists said yesterday.
“Researchers have found that the Southern Ocean is absorbing an ever-decreasing proportion of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. The excess carbon, which cannot be absorbed by the oceans, will remain in the atmosphere and accelerate global warming, they said.
“The reduced ability to absorb carbon is thought to be a result of high winds acting on ocean currents bringing deeper waters that already contain high levels of carbon to the surface.
“The higher winds are themselves believed to have been caused by climate change due to a combination of changes in the ozone layer and carbon emissions.
“The scientists from countries including Britain, France and Germany, said their findings marked the first time that one of the world’s natural carbon sinks had been shown to be weakened by Man’s own actions…….”
