Bronselaer, B, Zanna, L, Munday, DR et al. (1 more author) (2016) The influence of Southern Ocean winds on the North Atlantic carbon sink. Global Biogeochemical Cycles, 30 (6). pp. 844-858. ISSN 0886-6236
Abstract
Observed and predicted increases in Southern Ocean winds are thought to upwell deep ocean carbon and increase atmospheric CO2. However, Southern Ocean dynamics affect biogeochemistry and circulation pathways on a global scale. Using idealized Massachusetts Institute of Technology General Circulation Model (MITgcm) simulations, we demonstrate that an increase in Southern Ocean winds reduces the carbon sink in the North Atlantic subpolar gyre. The increase in atmospheric CO2 due to the reduction of the North Atlantic carbon sink is shown to be of the same magnitude as the increase in atmospheric CO2 due to Southern Ocean outgassing. The mechanism can be described as follows: The increase in Southern Ocean winds leads to an increase in upper ocean northward nutrient transport. Biological productivity is therefore enhanced in the tropics, which alters the chemistry of the subthermocline waters that are ultimately upwelled in the subpolar gyre. The results demonstrate the influence of Southern Ocean winds on the North Atlantic carbon sink and show that the effect of Southern Ocean winds on atmospheric CO2 is likely twice as large as previously thought in past, present, and future climates.
Metadata
Item Type: | Article |
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Authors/Creators: |
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Copyright, Publisher and Additional Information: | © 2016, American Geophysical Union. All Rights Reserved. This is the peer reviewed version of the following article: Bronselaer, B, Zanna, L, Munday, DR et al. (1 more author) (2016) The influence of Southern Ocean winds on the North Atlantic carbon sink. Global Biogeochemical Cycles, 30 (6). pp. 844-858. ISSN 0886-6236, which has been published in final form at https://doi.org/10.1002/2015GB005364. This article may be used for non-commercial purposes in accordance with Wiley Terms and Conditions for Use of Self-Archived Versions. |
Keywords: | ocean; carbon; Southern Ocean; climate; feedback |
Dates: |
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Institution: | The University of Leeds |
Academic Units: | The University of Leeds > Faculty of Environment (Leeds) > School of Earth and Environment (Leeds) > Inst for Climate & Atmos Science (ICAS) (Leeds) |
Depositing User: | Symplectic Publications |
Date Deposited: | 05 Sep 2019 11:40 |
Last Modified: | 05 Sep 2019 11:40 |
Status: | Published |
Publisher: | Wiley |
Identification Number: | 10.1002/2015GB005364 |
Open Archives Initiative ID (OAI ID): | oai:eprints.whiterose.ac.uk:150448 |