The Southern Ocean is soaking up more emissions than we thought

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By Yuanxu Dong et al, Science. 

Summary: It’s no secret that the ocean is a big help when it comes to curbing climate change, absorbing carbon and locking much of it away in its deep, dark depths. And that’s especially true of the waters around Antarctica. Now, a study  published in Science Advances suggests that the Southern Ocean may be pulling  25% more carbon dioxide from our atmosphere than previously thought. “Accurate quantification of the Southern Ocean CO2 sink is essential for the assessment of the Earth’s climate,” said Yuanxu Dong, lead author on the new paper, in a statement. Unfortunately, it’s the part of the globe we’re least certain about, as conditions often make sampling difficult. ...The new data indicate far more carbon absorption than expected during summer—and suggest  previous estimates that relied on indirect methods were thrown off by temperature.... 

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