Questão 11 - UEA - Geral 2016

Carbon dioxide levels reach a new peak

October 25, 2016

 

Across the globe, carbon dioxide (CO₂) average levels are expected to reach the symbolic and significant milestone of 400 parts per million for the first time in 2016. The sudden jump in carbon dioxide levels can be blamed on the El Niño conditions, which developed in 2015 and had a large influence on the weather for the first half of 2016.

El Niño is the warming of the surface of the Pacific Ocean, which is known to have a dramatic effect on the weather around the globe. One of the impacts of El Niño is a drought in tropical parts of the world. In a drought, the growth of vegetation slows, which reduces its ability to absorb carbon dioxide.

Normally, tropical forests absorb significant amount of carbon dioxide. It is estimated that about half of all carbon dioxide emissions are absorbed by natural absorbers, known as ‘sinks’, such as forests, vegetation and the oceans. In a drought, less carbon dioxide is absorbed, so the levels of the gas in the atmosphere increases.

(www.aljazeera.com. Adaptado.)

No trecho final do segundo parágrafo “which reduces its ability to absorb carbon dioxide”, o termo em destaque refere-se a