Southern Ocean's CO2 Absorption 25% Higher Than Previous Estimates

New direct measurements reveal greater carbon uptake, challenging older models and highlighting the need for refined climate assessments.

Researchers used novel eddy covariance techniques to measure air-sea CO2 fluxes directly.
The study indicates the Southern Ocean absorbs 25% more CO2 than previously estimated.
Findings suggest temperature variations and low-resolution data in older models led to underestimations.
The research underscores the importance of high-quality, year-round observations for accurate climate modeling.
Funding and expanded measurement efforts are critical to improve global CO2 flux estimates.