Scientists hope satellites will solve riddle of missing CO2

Robert S. Boyd | McClatchy Newspapers

last updated: January 29, 2009 07:54:23 PM

WASHINGTON — For years, scientists have been trying to solve what they call the "Mystery of the Missing Sinks.''

No, they're not talking about misplaced kitchenware. These "sinks'' are the world's forests, pastures, crops and soil, which soak up the excess carbon — in the form of carbon dioxide — that's a major driver of global warming. Even golf courses and suburban lawns serve as carbon sinks.

"Humans dump about 9 million tons of carbon daily into the atmosphere, but only half stays there,'' said David Crisp, principal investigator for NASA's Orbiting Carbon Observatory.