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 https://doi.org/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 |
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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: | https://doi.org/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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