oceans suck up half the excess carbon dioxide output of the industrial world, but th spells trouble for sea life. Nearly half the excess carbon spilled into the air by human activities over the last two centuries has been taken up by the ocean, according to a newly published study. If that process continues it could damage the ability of many ocean creatures to make the shells they depend on, according to an accompanying report. carbon dioxide, produced burning fossil fuels and other industrial processes, is one of the most important"greenhouse gases that many scientists fear may be causing global warming, by trapping heat in the Earth's atmosphere.