A new study provides evidence that that the ocean may have absorbed as much as 15% (0.3-0.4 Pg C yr-1) more CO2 than previously thought, requiring a re-think of future CO2 flux
A new study provides evidence that that the ocean may have absorbed as much as 15% (0.3-0.4 Pg C yr-1) more CO2 than previously thought, requiring a re-think of future CO2 flux assessments and global climate models.
The exchange of carbon dioxide (CO2) between the sea and air is a significant part of the global carbon cycle and plays a critical role in buffering climate change.
As the ocean is a major absorber of CO2, accurate quantification of this sea-air CO2 flux is vital for forecasting the future climate and developing effective climate change mitigation strategies.
In this first-of-its-kind study, led by Plymouth Marine Laboratory and GEOMAR Helmholtz Centre for Ocean Research (Germany) with a partner from Heriot-Watt University, 4,082 hours of high-quality sea-air CO2 flux measurements, collected over 17 ship cruises and covering a variety of ocean regions, were re-analyzed to investigate if bubble-mediated transfer acts in a more asymmetric manner.
Sea-air CO2 fluxes vary regionally and seasonally between uptake and outgassing, meaning that in some areas the ocean is absorbing CO2 and in other areas, releasing it. In turbulent areas where there is more wave action, uptake is generally more due to bubbles of air getting engulfed by waves
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