Revelle factor

[1] The buffer factor is used to examine the distribution of CO2 between the atmosphere and the ocean, and measures the amount of CO2 that can be dissolved in the mixed surface layer.

The Revelle factor describes the ocean's ability to uptake atmospheric CO2, and is typically referenced in global carbon budget analysis and anthropogenic climate change studies.

The species of DIC present in ocean waters are dependent on the pH of the system, and are illustrated by the Bjerrum plot below (Figure 1).

DIC and alkalinity govern carbonate and acid-base chemistry in the world's oceans, and their effects on the Revelle factor is no exception.

The Revelle effect describes how only a small fraction of pCO2 is present in ocean water when much larger amounts are added to the atmosphere.