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Ocean Carbon Cycle in a Changing Climate: Climate Change Detection

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The Ocean Carbon Cycle and Climate

Part of the book series: NATO Science Series ((NAIV,volume 40))

Abstract

The atmospheric concentration of CO2 and other greenhouse gases are increasing and changing the radiative properties of the atmosphere. To study the response of the ocean-climate system to this climate perturbation, investigators have integrated ocean-climate models with an atmospheric CO2 concentration that rises over time to double, triple or quadruple the control CO2 level [Bi et al., 2001; Hirst, 1999; Manabe and Stouffer, 1993; Goosse and Renssen, 2001]. The oceanic response in these experiments typically includes widespread surface warming, retreat of sea ice and a general increase in upper ocean stratification, all of which may impact upon the ocean biogeochemistry. The substantial reductions in formation rate and/or density of intermediate and deep water masses that occur in these simulations would likely affect biogeochemical cycling in the ocean and the air-sea exchange of oxygen and CO2. This chapter uses a biogeochemical model to examine the effect of global warming on biogeochemical cycling in the ocean focusing on the oceanic oxygen distribution. The chapter discusses the simulated oxygen changes in the ocean and demonstrates the potential of using oxygen changes to track global warming and provide observations to assess climate model simulations.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. CSIRO Marine Research and the Antarctic Cooperative Research Center, GPO Box 1538, Hobart, Tasmania, Australia

    Richard J. Matear

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  1. Richard J. Matear
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Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Earth Atmosphere and Planetary Sciences, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA

    Mick Follows

  2. Institute of Marine Sciences, Middle East Technical University, Erdemli, Turkey

    Temel Oguz

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© 2004 Springer Science+Business Media Dordrecht

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Matear, R.J. (2004). Ocean Carbon Cycle in a Changing Climate: Climate Change Detection. In: Follows, M., Oguz, T. (eds) The Ocean Carbon Cycle and Climate. NATO Science Series, vol 40. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4020-2087-2_9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4020-2087-2_9

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Dordrecht

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-4020-2086-5

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-4020-2087-2

  • eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive

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