Spatio-temporal Variability in Surface Ocean pCO2 Inferred from Observations

The variability of surface ocean pCO2 is examined on multiple spatial and temporal scales. Temporal autocorrelation analysis is used to examine pCO2 variability over multiple years. Spatial autocorrelation analysis describes pCO2 variability over multiple spatial scales. Spatial autocorrelation lengths range between <50 km in coastal regions and other areas of physical turbulence up to 3,000 km along major currents. Analysis of the drivers of pCO2 shows that ocean currents are the primary driver of spatial variability. Autocorrelation lengths of air-sea CO2 fluxes are approximately half as long as for pCO2 due to the effects of highly variable wind speeds. The influence of modes of climate variability on ocean pCO2 and related air-sea CO2 fluxes is examined through correlations of climate indices with interannual pCO2 anomalies separated from the long-term trend and mean seasonal cycle. Changes in the El Ni˜no Southern Oscillation alter pCO2 levels by -6.6 � 1.0 �atm per index unit (�atm iu

Name dc:type.qualificationname

phd

Level dc:type.qualificationlevel

doctoral

Grantor dc:publisher.institution

University of East Anglia

Year dc:date.issued

2012

Author dc:creator

• Jones, Steve

Language dc:language

en