"Southern Ocean's CO2 Storage at Risk as Climate Change Alters Salinity"

Research from the Alfred Wegener Institute reveals that climate change is altering salinity levels in the Southern Ocean, potentially jeopardizing its ability to sequester carbon dioxide.

• The Southern Ocean has historically played a crucial role in absorbing carbon dioxide, but climate models indicate that this capacity may decline due to ongoing climate change.
• Recent findings show that low-salinity water mass in the upper ocean has been vital in trapping carbon in the deep sea, despite no significant decline in carbon absorption in recent decades.
• Changes in ocean stratification caused by climate change could disrupt the processes of upwelling and carbon sequestration, impacting the Southern Oceans interaction with the atmosphere.