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Re: [Physics-61] Global Warming Saved the Whales.

From: Dan K.
Sent on: Wednesday, January 18, 2012, 6:34 PM 
Whales could be a key component in efforts to stabilize our climate.

The carbon spike matches the decline of whale populations.
It turns out that much of the carbon spike could come from the oceans.
It centuries past vast armies of whales cruised the oceans mopping up 
plankton.
Normally, plankton would live out their life cycles and die and 
decompose, releasing their carbon. Then the cycle would begin again, 
with much of the carbon being released to the atmosphere through the 
ocean surface.

Large populations of whales once mopped up this plankton, and 
deposited into a deep ocean carbon sink reservoir, through their 
feces. This process has been interrupted in the last two centuries. 
Time to bring back the whales.

Problem: Whales are slow breeders. It could take many centuries of 
complete protection to restore populations to pre-harvest levels.
....Dan

At 10:12 AM 1/18/2012, Hugh wrote:
>Whales used to be little hooved hyenas (mesonychids) in Pakistan
>until global warming drove them into the sea
>to become the animals we know today.

North York, ON

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