Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Interannual variability of the air–sea CO2 flux in the north Indian Ocean

  • Published:
Ocean Dynamics Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

A simple biogeochemical model coupled to an offline ocean tracer transport model driven by reanalysis ocean data is used to simulate the seasonal and interannual CO\(_2\) flux variability in the northern Indian Ocean. The maximum of seasonal and interannual CO\(_2\) emission variances in the northern Indian Ocean are located in the coastal Arabian Sea (AS) and Southern Peninsular India (SP) with a basin-wide seasonal amplitude and standard deviation of 0.044\(\pm \)0.04 Pg C year\(^{-1}\). The area integrated CO\(_2\) emissions from these two regions in the model are significantly correlated (above a 95 % level) with the observations of Takahashi et al. (Deep-Sea Res-II, 56:554–577, 2009). The interannual anomalies of CO\(_2\) emission from the AS and SP are found as 40 and 30 % of their respective seasonal amplitudes. Both the Arabian Sea (AS) and Southern Peninsular India (SP) interannual CO\(_2\) emission anomalies show a 3–4-year variability. The correlations of AS and SP CO\(_2\) emission anomalies with the Indian Ocean Dipole/Zonal Mode (IODZM) and Southern Oscillation (SO) indices from 1980 to 1999 are 0.35, 0.21 and 0.32, 0.01 respectively. A 5-year window moving correlation analysis shows that the relationship of AS and SP CO\(_2\) emission to the SO and IODZM are complementary to each other. During the years when the correlation of air–sea CO\(_2\) emission with the IODZM is stronger, the corresponding correlation with the SO is weaker or opposite. The total change in pCO\(_2\) is broken down into changes induced by the individual components such as dissolved inorganic carbon (DIC), sea surface temperature (SST), alkalinity, and salinity and found that (1) the effect of SST in the AS CO\(_2\) emission increases (decreases) when the correlation of CO\(_2\) emission with the IODZM is positive (negative), and (2) the SP CO\(_2\) emission is strongly controlled by the circulation-driven DIC changes; however, this relation is found to be weaker when the SO correlates negatively with the SP CO\(_2\) emission.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Ashok K, Guan Z, Yamagata T (2001) Impact of the Indian Ocean dipol on the relationship between the Indian Monsoon Rainfall and ENSO. Geophys Res Lett 28:4499–4502

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bates NR, Pequignet AC, Sabine CL (2006) Ocean carbon cycling in the Indian Ocean: 1. Spatiotemporal variability of inorganic carbon and air–sea CO\(_2\) gas exchange. Glob Biogeochem Cycles 20. doi:10.1029/2005GB002491

    Google Scholar 

  • Bryan K, Lewis LJ (1979) A watermass model of the world ocean. J Geophys Res 84:2503–2517

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Conkright ME, Locamini RA, Gracia HE, O’Brien TD, Boyer TP, Stephens C, Antonov JJ (2001). National Oceanographic Data Center. M. D., p 17

  • Delworth TL, et al. (2006) GFDL’s CM2 global coupled climate models. Part I: formulation and simulation characteristics. J Climate 19:643–674

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Dutkiewicz S, Marshall MFJ, Gregg WW (2001) Interannual variability of phytoplankton abundances in the north Atlantic. Deep-Sea Res 48:2323–2344

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Fletcher SEM, Gruber N, Jacobson AR, Doney SC, Dutkiewicz S, Gerber M, Follows M, Joos F, Lindsay K, Menemenlis D, Mouchet A, Müller SA, Sarmiento JL (2006a) Inverse estimate of anthropogenic CO2 uptake, transport and storage by the ocean. J Geophys Res 20. doi:10.1029/2005GB002530

    Google Scholar 

  • Fletcher SEM, Gruber N, Jacobson AR, Gloor M, Doney SC, Dutkiewicz S, Gerber M, Follows M, Joos F, Lindsay K, Menemenlis D, Mouchet A, Müller SA, Sarmiento JL (2006b) Inverse estimate of oceanic sources and sinks of natural CO2 and their implied oceanic transport. J Geophys Res 21. doi:10.1029/2005GB002530

    Google Scholar 

  • Friedrichs MAM, et al. (2007) Assessment of skill and portability in regional biogeochemical models: role of multiple planktonic groups. J Geophys Res 112. doi:10.1029/2006JC003852

    Google Scholar 

  • Friedrichs MAM, Hood RR, Wiggert JD (2006) Ecosystem model complexity versus physical forcing quantification of their relative impact with assimilated Arabian Sea data. Deep-Sea Res 53:576–600

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gent PR, McWilliams JC (1990) Isopycnal mixing in ocean circulation models. J Phys Oceanogr 20:150–155

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gnanadesikan A, et al. (2006) GFDL’s CM2 global coupled climate models. Part II: the baseline ocean simulation. J Climate 19:675–697

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Goyet C, Metzl N, Millero F, Eischeid G, O’Sullivan D, Poisson A (1998) Temporal variation of the sea surface CO2/carbonate properties in the Arabian Sea. Mar Chem 63:6979

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Griffies SM, Hallberg RW (2000) Biharmonic friction with a Smagorinsky-like viscosity for use in large-scale eddy-permitting ocean models. J Phys Oceanogr 128:2935–2946

    Google Scholar 

  • Gurney KR, Law RM, Denning AS, Rayner PJ, Pak B, Transom-3-L2-modelers (2004) Transcom-3 inversion intercomparison: model mean results for the estimation of seasonal carbon sources and sinks. Glob Biogeochem Cycles 18. doi:10.1029/2003GB002111

    Google Scholar 

  • Hood RR, Kohler KE, McCreary JP (2003) A four-dimensional validation of a coupled physical-biological model of the Arabian Sea. Deep-Sea Res 50:2917–2945

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Jacobson AR, Fletcher SEM, Gruber N, Sarmiento JL, Gloor M (2007) A joint atmosphere–ocean inversion for surface fluxes of carbon dioxide: 2. Regional results. Glob Biogeochem Cycles 21. doi:10.1029/2006GB002703

    Google Scholar 

  • Josey SA, Kent EC, Taylor PK (1999) New insights into the ocean heat budget closure problem from analysis of the soc air–sea flux climatology. J Climate 12:2856–2880

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Key RM, Kozyr A, Sabine CL, Lee K, Wanninkhof R, Bullister JL, Feely RA, Millero FJ, Mordy C, Peng T-H (2004) A global ocean carbon climatology: results from global ocean data analysis project (GLODAP). J Geophys Res 18. doi:10.1029/2004GB002247

    Google Scholar 

  • Large WG, McWilliams JC, Doney SC (1994) Ocean vertical mixing: a review and a model with a nonlocal boundary layer parameterization. Rev Geophys 32:363–403

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Le-Quere C, Orr JC, Monfray P, Aumont O, Madec G (2000) Interannual variability of the oceanic sink of CO2 from 1979 through 1997. Glob Biogeochem Cycles 14:1247–1265

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Louanchi F, Metzl N, Poisson A (1996) Modelling the monthly sea surface fCO2 fields in the Indian Ocean. Mar Chem 55:265279

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Maksyutov S, Nakatsuka Y, Valsala V, Saito M, Kadygrov N, Aoiki T, Eguchi N, Hirata R, Ikeda M, Inoue G, Nakazawa T, Onishi R, Patra PK, Richardson AD, Saeki T, Yokota T (2010) Algorithms for carbon flux estimation using GOSAT observational data. CGER’S Supercomputer Monograph 15:1–112

    Google Scholar 

  • McClain CR, Feldman GC, Hooker SB (2004) An overview of the SeaWiFs project and strategies for producing a climate research quality global ocean bio-optical time series. Deep-Sea Res 51:5–42

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • McKinley GA, Follows MJ, Marshall J (2004) Mechanism of air-sea CO2 flux variability in the equatorial Pacific and North Atlantic. Glob Biogeochem Cycles 18. doi:10.1029/2003GB002179

    Google Scholar 

  • Metzl N, Poisson A, Louanchi F, Brunet C, Schauer B, Bres B (1995) Spatio-temporal distributions of air-sea fluxes of CO2 in the Indian and Antarctic Oceans. A first step. Tellus Ser B Chem Phys Meteorol 47:56–69

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Murtugudde R, Goswami BN, Busalacchi AJ (1998) Air-sea interaction in the southern tropical Indian Ocean and its relations to interannual variability of the monsoon over India Proc. Int. Conf. on Monsoon and Hydrological Cycle. Korean Meteorological Agency, Korea, pp 184–188

    Google Scholar 

  • Murtugudde R, McCreary JP, Busalacchi AJ (2000) Oceanic processes associated with anomalous events in the Indian Ocean with relevance to 1997–1998. J Geophys Res 105:3295–3306

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Obata A, Kitamura Y (2003) Interannual variability of the air-sea exchange of CO2 from 1961 to 1998 simulated with a global ocean circulation-biogeochemistry model. J Geophys Res 108. doi:10.1029/2001JC001088

    Google Scholar 

  • Patra PK, Maksyutov S, Ishizawa M, Nakazawa T, Abd TT, Ukita J (2005) Interannual and decadal changes in the air–sea \(CO_2\) flux from atmospheric \(CO_2\) inverse modeling. Glob Biogeochem Cycles 19. doi:10.1029/2004GB002257

    Google Scholar 

  • Rao SA, Behera SK, Masumoto Y, Yamagata T (2002) Interannual subsurface variability in the Tropical Indian Ocean with a special emphasis on the Indian Ocean Dipole. Deep-Sea Res 49:1549–1572

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Richardson TL, Jackson GA, Ducklow HW, Roman MR (2006) Spatial and seasonal patterns of carbon cycling through planktonic food webs of the Arabian Sea determined by inverse analysis. Deep-Sea Res 53:555–575

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sabine CL, Wanninkhof R, Key RM, Goyet C, Millero FJ (2000) Seasonal co2 fluxes in the tropical and subtropical Indian Ocean. Mar Chem 72:33–53

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Saji NH, Goswami BN, Vinayachandran PN, Yamagata T (1999) A dipole mode in the tropical Indian Ocean. Nature 401:360–363

    Google Scholar 

  • Sarma VVSS (2003) Monthly variability in surface pCO2 and net air–sea CO2 flux in the Arabian Sea. J Geophys Res 108. doi:1029/2001JC001062

    Google Scholar 

  • Sharada MK, Swathi PS, Yajnik KS, Devasena CK (2008) Role of biology in the air–sea carbon flux in the Bay of Bengal and Arabian Sea. J Earth Syst Sci 117:429–447

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Takahashi T, Sutherland SC, Sweeney C, Poisson A, Metzl N, Tilbrook B, Bates N, Wanninkhof R, Feely RA, Sabine C, Olafsson J, Nojiri Y (2002) Global sea–air CO\({_2}\) flux based on climatological surface ocean \({p}\)CO\({_2}\) and seasonal biological and temperature effect. Deep-Sea Res 49:1601–1622

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Takahashi T, Sutherland SC, Wanninkhof R, Sweeney C, Feely RA (2009) Climatological mean and decadal changes in surface ocean pCO2, and net sea–air CO2 flux over the global oceans. Deep-Sea Res Part 2 56:554–577

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Uppala S, Kallberg P, Hernandez A, Saarinen S, Fiorino M, Li X, Onogi K, Sokka N, Andrea U, Bechtold VC (2004) ERA-40: ECMWF 45-year reanalysis of the global atmopshere and surface conditions 1957–2002. ECMWF Newsletter 101:2–21

    Google Scholar 

  • Valsala V (2008) First and second baroclinic mode responses of the tropical Indian Ocean to interannual equatorial wind anomalies. J Oceanogr 64:479–494

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Valsala V, Maksyutov S (2010) Simulation and assimilation of global ocean pCO2 and air–sea CO2 fluxes using ship observations of surface ocean pCO2 in a simplified biogeochemical offline model. Tellus. doi:10.1111/j.1600-0889.2010.00495.x

    Google Scholar 

  • Valsala V, Maksyutov S, Ikeda M (2008) Desing and validation of an offline oceanic tracer transport model for a carbon cycle study. J Climate 21:2752–2769

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Vinayachandran PN, Izuka S, Yamagata T (2002) Indian Ocean dipole mode events in an ocean general circulation model. Deep-Sea Res 49:1573–1596

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wanninkhof R (1992) Relationship between wind speed and gas exchange over the ocean. J Geophys Res 97:7373–7382

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wiggert JD, Murtugudde RG, Christian JR (2006) Annual ecosystem variability in the tropical Indian Ocean results of a coupled bio-physical ocean general circulation model. Deep-Sea Res 53:644–676

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wiggert JD, Murtugudde RG, McClain CR (2002) Processes controlling interannual variations in wintertime (Northeast Monsoon) primary productivity in the central Arabian Sea. Deep-Sea Res 49:2319–2343

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

This work was carried out as a part of GOSAT carbon cycle research project operating at CGER, NIES. The computational resources are provided by supercomputer facility at NIES. The offline fields for the physical model are provided by GFDL, Princeton, NJ. The first author was supported as a Japan Society for the Promotion of Science fellow in CGER, NIES, during the course of this work. Two anonymous reviewers are acknowledged for their valuable comments.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology (IITM), Pune, India

    Vinu Valsala & Shamil Maksyutov

Authors
  1. Vinu Valsala
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Shamil Maksyutov
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Vinu Valsala.

Additional information

Responsible Editor: Dieter Wolf-Gladrow

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Valsala, V., Maksyutov, S. Interannual variability of the air–sea CO2 flux in the north Indian Ocean. Ocean Dynamics 63, 165–178 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10236-012-0588-7

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10236-012-0588-7

Keywords

Index Terms

Search

Navigation