Southern Ocean CO2 Sink Study Reveals No Decline
Climate models predict strengthening westerly winds will reduce the Southern Ocean’s long-term CO2 absorption capacity.
Surface freshwater input has increased stratification, pushing deep CO2-rich water closer to the surface since the 1990s.
Weakened stratification could release stored CO2, triggering an oceanic 'burp' of heat in the Southern Hemisphere.
More winter data is needed to confirm CO2 release, with AWI studying this through the Antarctica InSync program.
1 week ago