422 



for seawater as O.i and calculate the invasion at a tension- 

 difference of only 0.001 °/o of the atmospheric pressure we find 

 that the ocean will absorb per year 0.525 cc. of carbonic acid 

 through every sq. cm. of its surface and, consequently, through 

 the whole surface of 374 millions of sq. km. 3.85 x 10^ tons of 

 the gas, corresponding to about l'/2 times the yearly output of 

 coal M- If therefore our present consumption of coal should 

 constitute a surplus-production of carbonic acid and destroy a 

 state of perfect equilibrium between the atmosphere and the sea, 

 we shall in a few years reach such a tension-difference that the 

 ocean can absorb the surplus as rapidly as it is produced, and 

 instead of being doubled in lOUO years, the percentage of carbonic 

 acid in the air will, during this period, rise about 0.005 ^/o or 

 probably less. 



It follows from the enormous diffusion, that is brought 

 about by extremely slight differences in. tension between the 

 atmosphere and the ocean, that a state of equilibrium — either 

 stable or sliding — will in all cases very rapidly be attained. 

 If the production of carbonic acid on the earth at a given 

 time equals the consumption, the mean tension of the gas in 

 the surface of the ocean must be equal to its mean percentage 

 in the atmosphere -). If, on the other hand, the production of 

 carbonic acid exceeds the consumption, the mean tension in 

 the ocean-surface must be lower than the percentage in the 



The coefficient of invasion determined by Bohr is jwssibly too lo^^, 

 and in my calculation no account is taken of the waves and wavelets 

 by which the absorbing surface is greatly increased. The figure found 

 is therefore a minimum and possibly much below the mark. 

 As the freshwaters on the earth are always engaged in transferring 

 carbonic acid from the air to the sea, the state of equilibrium between 

 consumption and production must — strictl> speaking — correspond 

 to a slight surplus-tension in the ocean-surface. The quantity of free 

 and loose CO.j transferred yearly by the rivers of the earth is estimated 

 by Reade at 1.35X10^ tons or about '/2 our consumption of coaj. A 

 surplus-tension in the sea of О.оооз % would be sufficient to return 

 this quantity to the atmosphere. 



