Schematic: Global dispersion of carbon dioxide

1. An Introductory Global CO₂ Model by William Schiesser and Anthony McHugh, professors of chemical and biomolecular engineering, and British colleague Graham W. riffiths is scheduled to be published in July by World Scientific Publishing Co. The book uses ordinary differential equations, software programming languages Matlab and R, and historic and current data to chart and project the levels of global carbon dioxide from 1850 to 2100 in the upper and lower atmosphere, in long and short-lived biota, in the upper and lower layers of the ocean, and in the marine biosphere.
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3. CO₂ in the air…

The authors’model shows atmospheric levels of CO₂ rising from 280 parts per million in 1850 to 390 ppm in 2008. Depending on future emission rates, atmospheric CO₂ levels by 2100 could range from 450 to 900 ppm.

 …and water

Due to CO₂ growth in the oceans, the model projects a worldwide oceanic pH level of 8.25 in 1850 falling to 8.10 by 2015 and to 7.8 by 2100.

The CaCO₃ factor

Because acidity rises as pH drops, the model forecasts declining oceanic levels of calcium carbonate (CaCO₃), a function of pH and a key ingredient of coral reefs and animal shells.