2023/12/14 by Siqi Zhang, Peng Chen, Yongxiang Hu +5 · 1 voice · 1 citation
Earth and Planetary Sciences · Environmental Science · #Ocean Acidification Effects and Responses #Atmospheric and Environmental Gas Dynamics #Marine and coastal ecosystems
paper · pdf · doi:10.1093/pnasnexus/pgad432
openalex publication_date 2023/12/14 · openalex created_date 2023/12/16 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/22
Abstract The ocean absorbs a significant amount of carbon dioxide (CO2) from the atmosphere, helping regulate Earth's climate. However, our knowledge of ocean CO2 sink levels remains limited. This research focused on assessing daily changes in ocean CO2 sink levels and air–sea CO2 exchange, using a new technique. We used LiDAR technology, which provides continuous measurements during day and night, to estimate global ocean CO2 absorption over 23 years. Our model successfully reproduced sea surface partial pressure of CO2 data. The results suggest the total amount of CO2 absorbed by oceans is higher at night than during the day. This difference arises from a combination of factors like temperatures, winds, photosynthesis, and respiration. Understanding these daily fluctuations can improve predictions of ocean CO2 uptake. It may also help explain why current carbon budget calculations are not fully balanced—an issue scientists have grappled with. Overall, this pioneering study highlights the value of LiDAR's unique day–night ocean data coverage. The findings advance knowledge of ocean carbon cycles and their role in climate regulation. They underscore the need to incorporate day–night variability when assessing the ocean's carbon sink capacity.