Southern Ocean changing but still major CO2 sink: study

[DogPoundPup]

SINGAPORE (Reuters) - The Southern Ocean has proved more resilient to global warming than previously thought and remains a major store of mankind's planet-warming carbon dioxide, a study has found.

Oceans absorb a large portion of the extra CO2 released by mankind through burning fossil fuels or deforestation, acting as a brake on climate change, and the Southern Ocean is the largest of these "carbon sinks."

Previous research has suggested the vast ocean between Australia and Antarctica was losing its potency because climate change had affected its currents and increased powerful westerly winds.

The latest study compares ship-based measurements of the ocean since the 1960s and more recent data from hundreds of robotic floats. The analysis shows the Southern Ocean has maintained its ability to soak up excess carbon despite changes to currents and wind speeds.

"It's a positive thing. It's one thing it looks like we don't have to worry about as much as we thought," said Steve Rintoul of the Center for Australian Weather and Climate Research, part of a team researchers that also included scientists from the Institute for Marine Research at the University of Kiel in Germany.

Read more @ http://www.enn.com/climate/article/38712