According to scientists, Antarctica's Southern Ocean is loaded with carbon dioxide (CO2) and can barely absorb any more of the greenhouse gas. The Southern Ocean functions as a one of the planet's largest carbon sinks, soaking up excess CO2 from the atmosphere that would otherwise contribute to global warming. Researcher Corinne Le Quere called this finding "very alarming," as the Southern Ocean accounts for 15 percent of the global carbon sink. Read more at CNN.com(1).

1. http://www.cnn.com/2007/TECH/science/05/17/climate.ocean.reut/index.html