Southern Ocean storms drive unexpected carbon release

New research reveals that storms in the Southern Ocean trigger significant releases of carbon dioxide, challenging previous assumptions about the region's role as a major carbon sink. Using data from biogeochemical profiling floats, scientists found that storm-driven upwelling brings carbon-rich waters to the surface, resulting in outgassing that accounts for about 25% of the annual carbon flux. This finding suggests that current ocean models underestimate the impact of storms on carbon exchange, highlighting the need for improved modeling and continued use of advanced robotic technology to better understand the ocean's influence on climate change. (Phys.org)