During his recent visit to Europe, President Bush faced a great deal of criticism for his administration's opposition to the Kyoto climate change agreement.
The U.S. is the largest producer of greenhouse gases, including carbon dioxide.
But, the administration argues, because of its landmass, the U.S. also absorbs a great deal of the carbon it emits, and therefore deserves a credit.
Scientists call those places that absorb carbon "carbon sinks."
The most recent issue of Science magazine includes an article on carbon sinks, co-authored by UNH assistant research professor George Hurtt.
Hurtt works in the university's Institute for the Study of Earth Oceans and Space.
Hurtt described the research's findings to NHPR's Doug Macpherson.