Increases in westerly winds weaken the Southern Ocean carbon sink

Increases in westerly winds weaken the Southern Ocean carbon sink

6 years ago
Anonymous $hM_jrxqbr-

https://phys.org/news/2018-07-westerly-weaken-southern-ocean-carbon.html

An international team of scientists measured the accumulation rate of wind-blown sea salts and minerals in a 12,000 year-old lake sediment record from sub Antarctic Macquarie Island. They show that periods of higher wind intensity directly correspond with periods of increasing atmospheric carbon dioxide measured in ice cores. This suggests that further increases in wind strength may well reduce the capacity of the Southern Ocean 'carbon sink'.

Co-lead author, palaeo-climate scientist Dr. Krystyna Saunders from the Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation and the University of Bern says: