Observations Indicate That Clouds Amplify Mechanisms of Southern Ocean Heat Uptake

Variability of ocean heat uptake: Reconciling observations and models

[1] This study examines the temporal variability of ocean heat uptake in observations and in climate models. Previous work suggests that coupled Atmosphere-Ocean General Circulation Models (A-OGCMs) may have underestimated the observed natural variability of ocean heat content, particularly on decadal and longer timescales. To address this issue, we rely on observed estimates of heat content fr...

Inorganic carbon uptake by Southern Ocean phytoplankton

We report the results of laboratory and field studies examining inorganic carbon (Ci) utilization by Southern Ocean phytoplankton. Both in monospecific laboratory cultures of diatoms and Phaeocystis antarctica and in natural assemblages in the Ross Sea, Ci uptake by phytoplankton was dominated by direct HCO { 3 transport. The contribution of HCO 3 transport to total Ci uptake ranged from 65% to...

Bicarbonate uptake by Southern Ocean phytoplankton

[1] Marine phytoplankton have the potential to significantly buffer future increases in atmospheric carbon dioxide levels. However, in order for CO2 fertilization to have an effect on carbon sequestration to the deep ocean, the increase in dissolved CO2 must stimulate primary productivity; that is, marine phototrophs must be CO2 limited [Riebesell et al., 1993]. Estimation of the extent of bica...

Ocean Heat Uptake Processes : A Model Intercomparison

The quasi-equilibrium heat balances, as well as the responses to 4 3 CO2 perturbation, are compared among three global climate models with the aim to identify and explain intermodel differences in ocean heat uptake (OHU) processes. It is found that, in quasi equilibrium, convective and mixed layer processes, as well as eddy-related processes, cause cooling of the subsurface ocean. The cooling i...

Mechanisms of the Southern Ocean 1 meridional heat transport response to 2 projected wind changes