Ocean-atmosphere partitioning of anthropogenic carbon dioxide on centennial timescales

Goodwin, P. and Williams, R.G. and Follows, M.J. and Dutkiewicz, S. (2007) Ocean-atmosphere partitioning of anthropogenic carbon dioxide on centennial timescales. Global Biogeochemical Cycles, 21 (1). DOI 10.1029/2006GB002810

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Abstract

A theory for the ocean-atmosphere partitioning of anthropogenic carbon dioxide on centennial timescales is presented. The partial pressure of atmospheric CO2 (PCO2) is related to the external CO2 input (Δ∑C) at air-sea equilibrium by: PCO2 = 280 ppm exp(Δ∑C/[IA + IO/R]), where IA, IO, and R are the pre-industrial values of the atmospheric CO2 inventory, the oceanic dissolved inorganic carbon inventory, and the Revelle buffer factor of seawater, respectively. This analytical expression is tested with two- and three-box ocean models, as well as for a version of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology general circulation model (MIT GCM) with a constant circulation field, and found to be valid by at least 10% accuracy for emissions lower than 4500 GtC. This relationship provides the stable level that PCO2 reaches for a given emission size, until atmospheric carbon is reduced on weathering timescales. On the basis of the MIT GCM, future carbon emissions must be restricted to a total of 700 GtC to achieve PCO2 stabilization at present-day transient levels. Copyright 2007 by the American Geophysical Union.

Item Type:	Article
Uncontrolled Keywords:	NILAREP
Subjects:	01 - Climate Change and Earth-Ocean Atmosphere Systems
Divisions:	01 - Climate Change and Earth-Ocean Atmosphere Systems
Journal or Publication Title:	Global Biogeochemical Cycles
Volume:	21
Identification Number:	10.1029/2006GB002810
Depositing User:	Sarah Humbert
Date Deposited:	20 Dec 2011 13:12
Last Modified:	23 Jul 2013 10:03
URI:	http://eprints.esc.cam.ac.uk/id/eprint/2298

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