GOTHENBURG UNIVERSITY
Storms over the waters around Antarctica release carbon dioxide into the atmosphere, according to a new international study with researchers from the University of Gothenburg. The team used advanced ocean robots for the study, which helps to better understand climate change and could lead to better global climate models.
The world’s southernmost ocean, the Southern Ocean that surrounds Antarctica, plays an important role in global climate because its waters contain large amounts of carbon dioxide. A new international study, in which researchers from the University of Gothenburg are involved, has looked at the complex processes that drive air-sea gases, such as carbon dioxide.
Storms bring carbon dioxide-rich waters to the surface
The team is now making new findings that shed light on the important role the region plays in climate change.
“We show how often intense storms in the region increase ocean mixing and bring carbon dioxide-rich waters from deep to the surface. This results in the release of carbon dioxide from the ocean into the atmosphere. Sebastiaan Swart, professor of oceanography at the University of Gothenburg and colleagues said: the study’s author.
Facilitating better climate models
Half of the carbon dioxide in the world’s oceans is found in the Southern Ocean. At the same time, climate change is forecast to cause more intense storms in the future. Therefore, the researchers point out, it is important to understand the impact of hurricanes on the release of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere.
“This knowledge is needed to be able to make more accurate predictions about future climate change. Currently, these environmental processes are not captured by global climate models,” said Marcel du Plessis at the University of Gothenburg, who was also involved in the study.
Pioneering ocean robot
Measuring the inaccessible and stormy waters around Antarctica over a long period of time is a real challenge, which researchers must tackle with the help of unique robotic technology. Within months, autonomous ocean robots; drones and ocean gliders, which collect data from the surface and through a depth of one kilometer.
“This pioneering technology has given us the opportunity to collect data with long-term durability, something that a research vessel was not able to do. Thanks to these ocean robots, we can fill important knowledge gaps and better understand the importance of oceans for climate, says Sebastiaan Swart.
Contact: Sebastiaan Swart, Professor of Oceanography at the University of Gothenburg, Department of Marine Science. Phone: 0046 723 667672, Email: [email protected]
About research
Posts “The storm releases CO2 in the subarctic Southern Ocean“Published in Essential communication. The international study was carried out in collaboration between Sebastiaan Swart and Marcel du Plessis at the Faculty of Marine Sciences of the University of Gothenburg and CSIR (Council for Scientific and Industrial Research) in South Africa. The first author was Sarah Nicholson at CSIR.
Contributions to research by the University of Gothenburg have been supported by the Knut and Alice Wallenberg Foundation through the Wallenberg Institute Fellows Program and the Swedish Research Council.
JOURNEYS
Nature Communications
RESEARCH METHODS
survey
RESEARCH SUBJECTS
Do not apply
ARTICLE TITLE
Storms release CO2 in the subarctic Southern Ocean
ARTICLE PUBLICATION DATE
January 10, 2022
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