Southern Ocean may flip from carbon sink to carbon source under mitigation scenarios
Plans to limit the global temperature rise to 1.5°C above preindustrial levels depend on reaching net-zero emissions and, in many cases, actively removing carbon dioxide (CO2) from the air.
Plans to limit the global temperature rise to 1.5°C above preindustrial levels depend on reaching net-zero emissions and, in many cases, actively removing carbon dioxide (CO2) from the air.
The short version
- While this helps limit extreme weather, sea level rise, ecosystem loss and the risk of triggering irreversible climate tipping points, a new study, published in Science Advances, finds that reducing CO2 levels may have an unexpected effect.
- Climate simulations used in the study suggest that the Southern Ocean around Antarctica may switch from being an important carbon sink to being a prolific source of carbon.
- This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies .
What happened
This is accomplished as colder water dissolves CO 2 , which then gets mixed and transported into deeper waters. Phytoplankton that live in sunlit surface waters help the process by taking up CO 2 for photosynthesis and converting the carbon into organic matter.
Why it matters
However, scientists aren't sure whether the Southern Ocean will remain a reliable carbon sink once emissions decline.
Summary by Nerd News Network. Read the full article at Phys.org via the links above and below.