Clarifying the fluctuations of carbon dioxide in the South Ocean

2010/02/01 Elhuyar Zientzia Iturria: Elhuyar aldizkaria

• Ingurumena

Researchers at Colorado State University have discovered how carbon dioxide is absorbed and diffused in the South Ocean in research published in the journal Nature.

The wind blowing in the South Ocean is almost uninterrupted, making it an unbeatable gas absorber. Although the South Ocean accounts for only 6% of the world's oceans, scientists estimate that it absorbs 40% of the carbon dioxide stored by the oceans. However, it only stores _9% of the CO2 it absorbs. What about the rest?

They used satellite data and developed a model. Researchers have studied the winds and sea currents of the South Ocean and found that most of the _CO2, far from sinking, extends from the Antarctic to the subtropics.

Researchers have also found that the Southern Ocean climate is changing significantly. _It is also possible that the amount of CO2 absorbed by the South Ocean as a result of the modification of air currents in these areas has varied.