The Humboldt Current binds CO2 and creates life!

The Humboldt Current carries cold water with low salinity from the South Pacific towards the equator. It makes the photosynthesis in the water to flourish. More than 300 grams of carbon, per square meter and year, is converted into organic material. This area is the most productive ecosystems in the world.

It also brings back nutrients, that has been released when degrading organic tissue from dead algea, fich etc, from the ocean floor to the surface.

http://www.theglobaleducationproject.org/earth/image.php?image=f-fisheries-map-lg.gif&title=global aquaculture

The Humboldt Current thus contributes to the big fishing industry in the area. Just under a fifth of the World’s fish catch has its origin in the area affected by the Humboldt Current. These are species of fish such as sardines and anchovies.

A rough estimate says tat the water that covers the Humboldt Current corresponds to the size of Australia. These waters would than bind the same amount of CO2 corresponding to what half of all the cars on Earth emit per year!

When the current functions normally one can in a sustainable way fish about 14 million tonnes of fish per year. The (unsustainable) annual fish catch in the World is at about 130 million tonnes.

Years with El Niño, when the Humboldt Current does not reach sea level and the ecosystem collapses, the binding of CO2 will decrease to such levels that the increase of CO2 in the atmosphere is noticeable.

Could it be that now that we have two El Nina in a row, we will be able to notice a reduction of CO2 in the atmosphere? And life would grow strong in the east Pacific Ocean??That would be really exciting!