Exciting new research and work by an international team of scientists may lead to what has been labelled a climate change early warning system. The team, led by Professor Andrew Wilson of the University of East Anglias School of Environmental Sciences, developed a new way of measuring the absorption of carbon dioxide by the oceans and they have been able to map the CO2 uptake for the whole of the North Atlantic - the first time this has been possible. As a result of the work done by the team it will now be possible to obtain more accurate predictions as to the rate of global climate change, as well as examine exactly how the environment is changing over time.
The technique could also see the implementation of what has been called an early warning system, designed to detect the weakening of the ocean sink which is described by some scientists as the first sign of more drastic climate change.
Professor Watsons team employed network of commercial ships equipped with chemical sensors, as well as information including satellite observations of sea surface temperatures, in order to successfully map levels of CO2 uptake in the North Atlantic Ocean.
The teams results indicated that the levels of CO2 absorption in the North Atlantic see significant variations over periods of several years and levels are also sensitive to regional levels of climate change. Professor Watson was excited by the results, delighted by the detail of the patterns his team was able to map. The hope is that networks similar to those established by Professor Watson in the course of his teams research can be established in other major ocean basins that are significantly served by shipping, thereby giving an accurate picture of the carbon uptake and absorption of the majority of the globes oceans. Such a network could also provide warnings regarding any weakening in CO2 uptake by the worlds ocean, giving a global picture subsequently unavailable. This uptake of CO2 by the oceans is vital in slowing the rise of atmospheric CO2 levels, and any weakening of this sink could be exacerbated by the more pronounced effects of climate change.
It is hoped that similar networks could be established in other major ocean basins well-covered by shipping, making it possible to observe carbon uptake over most of the worlds oceans. The networks could be used to give early warning of any weakening in the uptake of carbon dioxide by the global oceans. This uptake is very important in slowing the rise of CO2 in the atmosphere, and some scientists have warned that such a weakening of the sink could be beginning to occur as climate change becomes more pronounced.