ENSO Significantly Changes the Carbon Sink and Source Pattern in the Pacific Ocean with Regional Differences

ENSO Significantly Changes the Carbon Sink and Source Pattern in the Pacific Ocean with Regional Differences

The El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO) alters ocean–atmosphere carbon exchange, but the mechanisms by which it affects the air–sea carbon flux (FCO<sub>2</sub>) remain unclear. Here, we used gridded FCO<sub>2</sub> data from 2003 to 2021 to elucidate the control processes an...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Xue Tang, Xuhao Wan, Maohong Wei, Hongtao Nie, Wei Qian, Xueqiang Lu, Lin Zhu, Jianfeng Feng
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2024-12-01
Series:Remote Sensing
Subjects:
carbon sink
El Niño-Southern Oscillation
climate change
structural equation model
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2072-4292/16/24/4652
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Summary:The El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO) alters ocean–atmosphere carbon exchange, but the mechanisms by which it affects the air–sea carbon flux (FCO<sub>2</sub>) remain unclear. Here, we used gridded FCO<sub>2</sub> data from 2003 to 2021 to elucidate the control processes and regional differences in the influence of the ENSO on FCO<sub>2</sub> in the mid–low latitude Pacific Ocean. Overall, the mid–low latitude Pacific Ocean region was a net sink for CO<sub>2</sub>, with an average uptake rate of −0.39 molC·m<sup>−2</sup>·year<sup>−1</sup>. Specifically, during the La Niña period in 2010–2012, the absorption rate decreased by 15.38%, while during the El Niño period in 2015–2016, it increased by 30.77%. El Niño (La Niña) suppressed (promoted) biological primary production in the North Pacific, leading to reduced (enhanced) carbon uptake. El Niño (La Niña) also inhibited (promoted) physical vertical mixing in the Equatorial Pacific, leading to reduced (enhanced) carbon emissions. In the South Pacific, however, El Niño increased carbon uptake and La Niña decreased carbon uptake; although, not by these two processes. More frequent El Niño in the future will further reduce carbon absorption in the North Pacific and carbon emission in the Equatorial Pacific but increase carbon absorption in the South Pacific.
ISSN:2072-4292

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