Global ocean studies, the greenhouse effect, and climate change: Investigating interconnections

Ocean are a highly important but little understood part of the Earth's ecosystem. Concentrated efforts are needed to investigate different aspects of this complex system and its role in controlling the climate. Among the most urgent tasks is an advancement of our understanding of the varying rates of uptake and release of carbon dioxide by the ocean under changing environmental conditions. Techniques based on both stable and radioactive isotopes have an important part to play in this research. 5 figs