Temporal evolution of anthropogenic carbon in the subpolar North
Atlantic gyre between 2011 - 2021
Abstract
The ocean plays a major role in the moderation of
anthropogenically-induced climate change by absorbing roughly a quarter
of anthropogenic CO2 (Cant). This absorption of Cant by the ocean leads
to ocean acidification, threatening marine’s life. The North Atlantic
Ocean encompasses the highest ocean storage capacity of Cant per unit
area. The subpolar North Atlantic gyre is subject to a large seasonal to
decadal variability that might impact Cant storage. To investigate Cant
evolution over the 2011-2021 period and its relationship with ocean
dynamics in this region, we use the Argo-O2 array combined with neural
networks and a back-calculation method (φCTO method). We compute monthly
time-series of Cant in the Labrador and Irminger Seas. We show that Cant
concentrations in the first 2000 dbar of the Labrador and Irminger Seas
are strongly affected by winter deep convection, especially between
winter 2015 and winter 2018. The Cant inventories in the top 2000 dbar
of the Labrador and Irminger Seas increase through time, at rates of
1.63±0.32% yr-1 and 1.49±0.30% yr-1, respectively. Our monthly
Argo-based Cant estimates complement high-quality ship-based
measurements acquired at a biennial or lower frequency. Additionally,
this study shows that Cant concentrations and Cant inventories in deep
convection areas may depend on the method employed to calculate Cant. As
a consequence, we take over the model ensemble idea and propose to use
several methods to compute Cant, which would give its methodological
uncertainty.