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Global Climate Change Digest
A Guide to Information on Greenhouse Gases and Ozone Depletion
Published July 1988 through June 1999

FROM VOLUME 3, NUMBER 1, JANUARY 1990

PROFESSIONAL PUBLICATIONS...
EARTH SYSTEM SCIENCE

Item #d90jan26

"Carbon Dioxide Transport by Ocean Currents at 25° N Latitude in the Atlantic Ocean," P.G. Brewer (Dept. Chem., Woods Hole Oceanog. Inst., Woods Hole MA 02543), C. Goyet, D. Dyrssen, Science, 246 (4929), 477-479, Oct. 27, 1989.

The North Atlantic Ocean has been considered to be a strong sink for atmospheric CO₂, yet results from this study show that the net flux in 1988 across 25° N was small, suggesting that the North Atlantic is a small sink for CO₂ in spite of its large heat loss. Results show it is, however, a larger sink for O2.

Item #d90jan27

"Modeling the Nutrient and Carbon Cycles of the North Atlantic: 2. New Production, Particle Fluxes, CO₂ Gas Exchange, and the Role of Organic Nutrients," R. Schlitzer (Univ. Bremen, FB-1, Postfach 330440, 2800 Bremen 33, FRG), J. Geophys. Res., 94(C9), 12,781-12,794, Sep. 15, 1989.

Investigates the influence of dissolved organic nutrients on the oceanic nutrient and carbon cycles with a series of models that use traditionally accepted data or data from Sugimura and Suzuki (1988). The model with the traditional values produced feasible results, while the models with data from Sugimura and Suzuki were not feasible. More data for the dissolved organic nutrients must be collected before conclusive answers concerning their role in the oceanic nutrient cycles can be given.

Item #d90jan28

"A Study of the Sulfur Cycle in the Antarctic Marine Boundary Layer," A.A.P. Pszenny (NOAA, Atlantic Oceanog. Meteor. Lab., 4301 Rickenbacker Causeway, Miami FL 33149), A.J. Castelle, J.N. Galloway, J. Geophys. Res., 94(D7), 9818-9830, July 20, 1989.

Average atmospheric concentrations (n=6) of SO2, aerosol CH3SO3-, and aerosol non-sea-salt SO42- were 0.36, 0.22 and 0.34 nmol m-3, respectively. Box model calculations, based on these limited data, suggest a total sulfur removal rate from the local marine boundary layer approximately balancing the oceanic source of dimethylsulfide (DMS). This model also suggests that heterogeneous SO2 oxidation may be the major pathway for DMS to sulfate conversion. Uncertainties are large due to limited sampling time but these results show this area does not differ much from other remote marine regions.

Item #d90jan29

"Lidar Detection of Leads in Arctic Sea Ice," R.C. Schnell (CIRES, Univ. Colorado, Boulder CO 80309), R.G. Barry et al., Nature, 339(6225), 530-532, June 15, 1989.

This study shows that air-borne lidar provides a capability for locating narrow leads that are smaller than the resolution of current satellite sensors. The current view that turbulent fluxes from leads and polynyas affect only the boundary layer needs modification. If heat and moisture from leads can regularly reach the mid-troposphere, the role of the Arctic as a global heat sink may need re-evaluation and climate models will require more realistic parameterizations of surface-atmosphere fluxes. Results suggest that lead plumes may affect the radiation budget.

Item #d90jan30

Rev. Geophys., 27(2), May 1989.

"Geophysiology, The Science of Gaia," J.E. Lovelock (Coombe Mill, St. Giles on the Heath, Launceston, Cornwall PL15 9RY, England), 215-222. The Gaia hypothesis postulates that the climate and chemical composition of the Earth's surface environment is and has been regulated at a state tolerable for the biota. Numerical models can now be used to illustrate the potential for stable self-regulation of tightly coupled systems of organisms and their environments.

"The Gaia Hypothesis: Can It Be Tested?" J.W. Kirchner (Energy Resour. Group, Univ. Calif., Berkeley CA 94720), 223-235. The Gaia hypothesis has made three valuable contributions, but they are impossible to scientifically prove correct. It has (1) shown the vital role biogeochemical cycles play in creating the Earth's physical and chemical environment, (2) suggested mechanisms controlling climate, and (3) motivated scientific research to test these theories.