616 CYVROSSESTOLEM AN: 
cold waters, and in the actual case probably not more than one 
fortieth of the same. 
Admitting all the inaccuracies of our assumption, still it 
seems to be clear that with falling temperature ¢he ocean will dis- 
solve CO, from the air. 
The effect becomes more pronounced as the glaciers become 
more extensive and thus directly chill the ocean waters. We 
offer this as the most important accumulative factor causing the 
great extent of the glacial invasion, acting until overcome by a 
number of opposite agencies. 
Dr. Chamberlin’ has shown that the amount of CO, in the 
atmosphere at any one time, and therefore the climate of the 
earth at that time, depends upon the value of the ratio of the 
supply of the gas to its depletion. Besides the continuous sup- 
ply that the atmosphere receives from the interior of the earth 
and from planetary space and the continuous depletion due to 
the formation of the carbonates in place of the igneous alkali 
earth silicates, there are variations in the ratio of supply to 
depletion dependent upon the attitude of the land and water. 
A large exposure of land surface is correlated with a rapid 
solution of calcium and magnesium carbonates, and this solution 
is accompanied by a change from the normal carbonate to the 
bicarbonate form, and therefore represents a loss of CO, from 
the atmosphere. 
On the other hand the formation of the normal carbonate by 
lime-secreting animals causes a direct liberation of the second 
equivalent of the bicarbonate. Therefore extensive oceans and 
abundant marine life are correlated with warm climate, and 
restricted seas and elevated land cause loss of CO, and colder 
climate. 
Now, to investigate the réle the ocean plays in this conflict : 
1. The chief agencies in the removal of the carbon dioxide 
from the air are (a) the formation of the carbonates from the 
silicates ; (b) the solution of the carbonates as bicarbonates. 
These are dependent upon the attitude of the land and water, 
*See PROFESSOR T. C. CHAMBERLIN, JOUR. GEOL., Vol. V, p. 682. 
