What type of feedback occurs when warming of the Earth causes carbon dioxide to leave the oceans?

The warming of the Earth leading to an increase in carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions from the oceans is an example of positive feedback. In this case, as temperatures rise due to climate change, the ability of oceans to hold carbon dioxide decreases, causing more CO2 to be released into the atmosphere. This increase in atmospheric carbon dioxide enhances the greenhouse effect, leading to further warming of the planet. This cycle can amplify the initial change, creating a self-reinforcing loop where warming causes more CO2 to be released, which in turn causes more warming.

Positive feedback mechanisms like this are critical in understanding climate dynamics. They contrast with negative feedback, where a process counteracts changes and promotes stability in a system. In the case of warming oceans releasing CO2, the outcome is an escalation of warming rather than a return to equilibrium, illustrating the nature of positive feedback in climate systems.