More “settled” science — “If giant iceberg calving increases this century as expected, this negative feedback on the carbon cycle may become more important than we previously thought.”
The media release is below.
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Giant icebergs play key role in removing CO2 from the atmosphere
UNIVERSITY OF SHEFFIELD
Giant icebergs leave trail of carbon sequestration in their wake — a month after they have passed
Geographers analysed 175 satellite images of ocean colour which is an indicator of phytoplankton productivity at the ocean’s surface Giant icebergs are responsible for storing up to 20 per cent of carbon in the Southern Ocean, a new study has found.
Pioneering research from the University of Sheffield’s Department of Geography discovered melting water from giant icebergs, which contains iron and other nutrients, supports hitherto unexpectedly high levels of phytoplankton growth.
This activity, known as carbon sequestration, contributes to the long-term storage of atmospheric carbon dioxide, therefore helping to slow global warming.
During the study, which is the first of its kind on this scale, a team of scientists led by Professor Grant Bigg analysed 175 satellite images of ocean colour — which is an indicator of phytoplankton productivity at the ocean’s surface — from a range of icebergs in the Southern Ocean which were at least 18 km in length.
The images from 2003-2013 showed that enhanced phytoplankton productivity, which has a direct impact on carbon storage in the ocean, extends hundreds of kilometres from giant icebergs, and persists for at least one month after the iceberg passes.
Professor Bigg said: “This new analysis reveals that giant icebergs may play a major role in the Southern Ocean carbon cycle.
“We detected substantially enhanced chlorophyll levels, typically over a radius of at least four-10 times the iceberg’s length.
“The evidence suggests that assuming carbon export increases by a factor of five-10 over the area of influence and up to a fifth of the Southern Ocean’s downward carbon flux originates with giant iceberg fertilisation.
“If giant iceberg calving increases this century as expected, this negative feedback on the carbon cycle may become more important than we previously thought.”
The Southern Ocean plays a significant part in the global carbon cycle, and is responsible for approximately 10 per cent of the ocean’s total carbon sequestration through a mixture of biologically driven and chemical processes, including phytoplankton growth.
Previous studies have suggested that ocean fertilization from icebergs makes relatively minor contributions to phytoplankton uptake of CO2.
However this research, published today (Jan. 11, 2016) in Nature Geoscience, shows that melting water from icebergs is responsible for as much as 20 per cent of the carbon sequestered to the depths of the Southern Ocean.
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They also reduce acidity via dilution, and the sediment they carry may well have a >7 PH level.
It is called Henry’s Law – the law in chemistry and physics that gases (all of them) are more soluble the colder the solvent (usually water) is.
Icebergs chill the sea water. Large icebergs even more so. That is their role in arctic ecology.
Once the CO2 is dissolved in the cold water, it may be considered ‘sequestered.’
The color change of the sea water is merely an indication that there is more CO2 dissolved to support phytoplankton, which in turn supports zooplankton, which in turn supports larger marine life forms from corals and jellyfish to fish and whales.
The color may be used as a ‘proxy’ for dissolved CO2 concentrations, because climate scientists are particularly averse to doing anything directly.