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Disentangling the impact of Atlantic Niño on sea-air CO2 flux

Author

Listed:
  • Shunya Koseki

    (University of Bergen/Bjerknes Centre for Climate Research)

  • Jerry Tjiputra

    (NORCE Norwegian Research Centre/Bjerknes Centre for Climate Research)

  • Filippa Fransner

    (University of Bergen/Bjerknes Centre for Climate Research)

  • Lander R. Crespo

    (University of Bergen/Bjerknes Centre for Climate Research)

  • Noel S. Keenlyside

    (University of Bergen/Bjerknes Centre for Climate Research
    Nansen Environment and Remote Sensing Centre/Bjerknes Centre for Climate Research)

Abstract

Atlantic Niño is a major tropical interannual climate variability mode of the sea surface temperature (SST) that occurs during boreal summer and shares many similarities with the tropical Pacific El Niño. Although the tropical Atlantic is an important source of CO2 to the atmosphere, the impact of Atlantic Niño on the sea-air CO2 exchange is not well understood. Here we show that the Atlantic Niño enhances (weakens) CO2 outgassing in the central (western) tropical Atlantic. In the western basin, freshwater-induced changes in surface salinity, which considerably modulate the surface ocean CO2 partial pressure (pCO2), are the primary driver for the observed CO2 flux variations. In contrast, pCO2 anomalies in the central basin are dominated by the SST-driven solubility change. This multi-variable mechanism for pCO2 anomaly differs remarkably from the Pacific where the response is predominantly controlled by upwelling-induced dissolved inorganic carbon anomalies. The contrasting behavior is characterized by the high CO2 buffering capacity in the Atlantic, where the subsurface water mass contains higher alkalinity than in the Pacific.

Suggested Citation

  • Shunya Koseki & Jerry Tjiputra & Filippa Fransner & Lander R. Crespo & Noel S. Keenlyside, 2023. "Disentangling the impact of Atlantic Niño on sea-air CO2 flux," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 14(1), pages 1-8, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:14:y:2023:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-023-38718-9
    DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-38718-9
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Yun Yang & Lixin Wu & Wenju Cai & Fan Jia & Benjamin Ng & Guojian Wang & Tao Geng, 2022. "Suppressed Atlantic Niño/Niña variability under greenhouse warming," Nature Climate Change, Nature, vol. 12(9), pages 814-821, September.
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