The Environment Study: Pacific traps carbon dioxide (AP) - Finally, someone has something nice to say about El Nino. Researchers from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration found that from 1991 to 1994 - years when El Nino warmed the Pacific - the ocean released 30% to 80% less carbon dioxide, a gas that is believed to trap heat in the atmosphere. The finding was published in Thursday's issue of the journal Nature. Scientists commonly estimate how much carbon dioxide should be in the atmosphere by calculating how much fossil fuel is burned. But some 2 billion tons of carbon dioxide go unaccounted for each year. According to the NOAA research, reduced carbon dioxide releases in the Pacific during El Nino could account for about 16% to 36% of this "missing" CO2. See full story <http://www.infobeat.com/stories/cgi/story.cgi?id=2559170448-c5b>
