Breakthrough in modeling
Breakthrough in modeling blogs.helmholtz.de
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First global study of coastal seas as carbon dioxide reservoirs possible
Coastal seas form a complex transition zone between the two largest CO2 sinks in the global carbon cycle: land and ocean. Ocean researchers have now succeeded for the first time in investigating the role of the coastal ocean in a seamless model representation. The team led by Dr. Moritz Mathis from the Cluster of Excellence for Climate Research CLICCS at Universität Hamburg and the Helmholtz-Zentrum Hereon was able to show: The intensity of CO2 uptake is higher in coastal seas than in the open ocean. This is evidenced by a study published in the journal Nature Climate Change.
Introduction
In computational climate science, land and ocean, the Earth’s two major carbon reservoirs, have so far been considered separately. The transport of carbon into the coastal seas, for example via river inputs, coastal erosion and tidal flats, has been ignored. Coast-specific processes could only be considered in a limited and spatially coarse manner because climate models were developed for global scales. Due to the more realistic representation and higher resolution in the transition zone between land and ocean used in ICON-Coast, the model offers new possibilities to explore the effects of climate change on coastal areas and marine ecosystems, such as risks from heat waves, storms, or global sea level rise.
Key Findings
It is known from observations that the increase in atmospheric CO2 concentration enhances the uptake of CO2 into the ocean, thereby significantly mitigating climate change. Simulations with ICON-Coast now shed light on the causes and enable understanding of the function of coastal and marginal seas in the Earth’s climate dynamics: “Our analyses show that intense plankton growth is the key to enhanced CO2 uptake in the coastal ocean and that this uptake is higher than in the open ocean. This is due to climate-induced changes in the circulation and increasing nutrient inputs from rivers,” says Dr Moritz Mathis, who led the study. The researchers also expect that the intensity difference between coastal seas and the open ocean will continue to strengthen further with ongoing CO2 emissions.
Implications
All the more important: “Coastal management strategies that disturb biological production could weaken the ocean’s CO2 uptake and make climate protection more difficult,” emphasizes Mathis. “With the new model, we can also test approaches to CO2 avoidance such as offshore wind energy for their effectiveness and undesirable side effects.”
References
- Breakthrough in modeling
- Mathis, M., Lacroix, F., Hagemann, S., Nielsen, D.M., Ilyina, T., & Schrum, C. (2024): Enhanced CO2 uptake of the coastal ocean is dominated by biological carbon fixation. Nat. Clim. Chang., doi: 10.1038/s41558-024-01956-w
- Resplandy, L. (2024): Coastal sink outpaces open ocean. Nat. Clim. Chang., doi:10.1038/s41558-024-01968-6
SDGs, Targets, and Indicators
1. SDGs Addressed or Connected to the Issues Highlighted in the Article:
- SDG 13: Climate Action
- SDG 14: Life Below Water
2. Specific Targets Under Those SDGs Based on the Article’s Content:
- SDG 13.2: Integrate climate change measures into national policies, strategies, and planning.
- SDG 14.3: Minimize and address the impacts of ocean acidification.
3. Indicators Mentioned or Implied in the Article:
- CO2 uptake intensity in coastal seas compared to the open ocean.
- Plankton growth as a key factor in enhanced CO2 uptake in the coastal ocean.
- Climate-induced changes in circulation and increasing nutrient inputs from rivers as drivers of CO2 uptake.
Table: SDGs, Targets, and Indicators
| SDGs | Targets | Indicators |
|---|---|---|
| SDG 13: Climate Action | Target 13.2: Integrate climate change measures into national policies, strategies, and planning. | – CO2 uptake intensity in coastal seas compared to the open ocean. – Climate-induced changes in circulation and increasing nutrient inputs from rivers as drivers of CO2 uptake. |
| SDG 14: Life Below Water | Target 14.3: Minimize and address the impacts of ocean acidification. | – Plankton growth as a key factor in enhanced CO2 uptake in the coastal ocean. – Climate-induced changes in circulation and increasing nutrient inputs from rivers as drivers of CO2 uptake. |
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Source: blogs.helmholtz.de
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