Using altimetry to help explain patchy changes in hydrographic carbon measurements

Keith B. Rodgers, Robert M. Key, Anand Gnanadesikan, Jorge Louis Sarmiento, Olivier Aumont, Laurent Bopp, Scott C. Doney, John R. Dunne, David M. Glover, Akio Ishida, Masao Ishii, Andrew R. Jacobson, Claire Lo Monaco, Ernst Maier-Reimer, Herlé Mercier, Nicolas Metzl, Fiz F. Pérez, Aida F. Rios, Rik Wanninkhof, Patrick WetzelChristopher D. Winn, Yasuhiro Yamanaka

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

14 Scopus citations

Abstract

Here we use observations and ocean models to identify mechanisms driving large seasonal to interannual variations in dissolved inorganic carbon (DIC) and dissolved oxygen (O2) in the upper ocean. We begin with observations linking variations in upper ocean DIC and O2 inventories with changes in the physical state of the ocean. Models are subsequently used to address the extent to which the relationships derived from short-timescale (6 months to 2 years) repeat measurements are representative of variations over larger spatial and temporal scales. The main new result is that convergence and divergence (column stretching) attributed to baroclinic Rossby waves can make a first-order contribution to DIC and O2 variability in the upper ocean. This results in a close correspondence between natural variations in DIC and O2 column inventory variations and sea surface height (SSH) variations over much of the ocean. Oceanic Rossby wave activity is an intrinsic part of the natural variability in the climate system and is elevated even in the absence of significant interannual variability in climate mode indices. The close correspondence between SSH and both DIC and O2 column inventories for many regions suggests that SSH changes (inferred from satellite altimetry) may prove useful in reducing uncertainty in separating natural and anthropogenic DIC signals (using measurements from Climate Variability and Predictability's CO2/Repeat Hydrography program.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Article numberC09013
JournalJournal of Geophysical Research: Oceans
Volume114
Issue number9
DOIs
StatePublished - 2009

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

  • Earth and Planetary Sciences (miscellaneous)
  • Geochemistry and Petrology
  • Geophysics
  • Oceanography
  • Space and Planetary Science

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