Over 90 percent of the carbon fixed by photosynthesis is consumed by herbivores. Researchers have a good idea about how much carbon dioxide is being released into the atmosphere each year by calculating how much fossil fuels are being consumed. The ocean is in essence a large storage area for carbon. Most of the carbon is transported to continental slope regions adjacent to the continental shelves. Oceans warm and cool more slowly than land, so no one knows the exact magnitude of global warming.
Scientists are concerned over several potential positive feedback mechanisms.
The C02 concentration of the atmosphere has been increasing dramatically at about 1.5 parts per million annually. When temperature is increased, phytoplankton growth increases up to a certain point. Species with a higher optimal temperature also tend to have a higher rate of photosynthesis at that temperature. Photosynthesis is a complex process that involves light reactions with chorophyll that splits water into its components. Carbon dioxide is then reduced to carbohydrates.