WHOI PO

Title: The modification of air-sea CO₂fluxes by mesoscale eddies within the South Atlantic and global oceans

Abstract: Mesoscale eddies areknown to modify the physical, biological and chemical characteristics of theocean compared to their surrounding environment. These modifications are likelyto affect the air-sea CO₂ flux, but previous research provides onlya temporal snapshot of single eddies and how they may modify the air-sea CO₂flux. Using Lagrangian tracking and a synergy of in situ, satellite andreanalysis observations we estimate the effect of long lived mesoscale eddies (lifetimes> 1 year) on the air-sea CO₂ flux in the South Atlantic Ocean,throughout their lifetimes. We show for 67 eddies in South Atlantic Ocean anenhancement in the air-sea CO₂ sink. But this poses the question, doeddies enhance the air-sea CO₂ sink globally? Here I will alsopresent preliminary research that refines the methodology implemented for the SouthAtlantic Ocean and apply it to long lived eddies in the global oceans.