Published in Nature Communications, the research suggests that a weakening ocean circulation could lead to increased carbon dioxide release into the atmosphere, contrary to previous beliefs.
(Photo: AFP)This complex interaction could result in the ocean releasing more carbon into the atmosphere as circulation weakens.
When ocean circulation slows, it reduces the upwelling of nutrients and carbon from the deep ocean.
"We can't count on the ocean to store carbon in the deep ocean in response to future changes in circulation."
As climate change continues to impact ocean circulation, understanding these intricate relationships becomes crucial for accurate predictions and effective mitigation strategies.
A new study by MIT researcher Jonathan Lauderdale challenges long-held assumptions about the ocean's role in mitigating climate change.
Published in Nature Communications, the research suggests that a weakening ocean circulation could lead to increased carbon dioxide release into the atmosphere, contrary to previous beliefs.
Climate scientists have long predicted that global warming would slow down the ocean's overturning circulation, potentially reducing its capacity to absorb carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.
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However, it was thought that this slowdown would also limit the release of stored carbon from the deep ocean, maintaining the ocean's overall role as a carbon sink.
Lauderdale's study reveals a previously unrecognised feedback loop involving iron availability, upwelling carbon and nutrients, surface microorganisms, and organic molecules called ligands. This finding has significant implications for climate change mitigation strategies. (Photo: AFP)
This complex interaction could result in the ocean releasing more carbon into the atmosphere as circulation weakens.
The key to this discovery lies in the variable concentrations of ligands across different ocean regions. Ligands play a crucial role in making iron soluble and available to phytoplankton, which absorb carbon dioxide through photosynthesis. When ocean circulation slows, it reduces the upwelling of nutrients and carbon from the deep ocean.
This leads to decreased phytoplankton growth and fewer ligands, creating a self-perpetuating cycle that ultimately increases carbon outgassing from the ocean. "What we thought is going on in the ocean is completely overturned," Lauderdale states. "We can't count on the ocean to store carbon in the deep ocean in response to future changes in circulation."
This finding has significant implications for climate change mitigation strategies. It suggests that the ocean may not be as reliable a carbon sink as previously thought, emphasizing the urgent need for proactive measures to reduce carbon emissions.
The study underscores the complexity of ocean-climate interactions and highlights the importance of considering biological processes in climate models.
As climate change continues to impact ocean circulation, understanding these intricate relationships becomes crucial for accurate predictions and effective mitigation strategies.
Published By: Sibu Kumar Tripathi Published On: Jul 9, 2024
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