Carbon dioxide plays a crucial role in the Earth's climate system, contributing to the retention of heat in the atmosphere. This gas is released from various human activities, such as the burning of fossil fuels, and its concentrations fluctuate seasonally. Using data collected from NASA's Orbiting Carbon Observatory (OCO-2) satellite, scientists have developed a model that simulates the behavior of carbon in the atmosphere between September 1, 2014, and August 31, 2015. These models enhance our understanding of carbon dynamics and enable predictions about regions with high or low carbon dioxide concentrations based on terrestrial activities.

The oceans absorb greenhouse gases and heat from the atmosphere, mitigating the effects of human emissions of carbon dioxide. The Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation moves water from the Atlantic, absorbing greenhouse gases along the way and burying them deep near Greenland.