Spanish Scientists Uncover Ocean's Greater Role in Climate Cooling
-
Loading... - Maria Laine
- 11 Dec 2024
- 41 Views
- 0 Like
- 0 Comment
Two research teams from Spain's Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC) have made a significant discovery regarding the oceans' impact on climate change, revealing that they contribute more to slowing global warming than previously understood. Their research focuses on methanethiol, a sulphur gas emitted by the sea that plays a crucial role in cooling the climate by forming clouds. The scientists estimate that the oceans could counteract global warming by 30% to 70% more than earlier calculations suggested.
Traditionally, it has been believed that microscopic plankton in the ocean produce dimethyl sulphide, a gas that oxidizes in the atmosphere to form aerosols. These aerosols reflect sunlight back into space, reducing the heat retained by the Earth. The cooling effect is amplified by their role in cloud formation, which is essential for climate regulation. Until now, the cooling capacity of the oceans was primarily attributed to dimethyl sulphide, known for its characteristic seafood smell.
However, the collaborative efforts of the Institute of Marine Sciences (ICM) and the Blas Cabrera Institute of Physical Chemistry (IQF) have led to the quantification of methanethiol emissions on a global scale. Their findings, published in the journal Science Advances, indicate that the ocean emits 25% more sulphur than previously estimated due to methanethiol. This gas is not only released in greater quantities but is also more effective at forming aerosols than dimethyl sulphide, enhancing its cooling impact.
The researchers incorporated their findings into climate models, revealing that the previously unquantified emissions of methanethiol could lead to a 30-70% increase in sulphur aerosol formation over the Southern Ocean. This increase could reduce solar radiation by 0.3 to 1.5 watts per square meter during the summer months. Rafel Simó from ICM-CSIC noted that current climate models tend to overestimate solar radiation reaching the Southern Ocean, primarily due to their inability to accurately simulate cloud formation. The inclusion of these new sulphur emissions will help align the models more closely with reality.
The study also highlights that the effects of marine methanethiol emissions are more pronounced in the Southern Hemisphere, where there are fewer landmasses and less human activity, resulting in lower levels of sulphur from fossil fuel combustion. Alfonso Saiz-López from IQF-CSIC emphasized that the research sheds light on the ocean's climatic influence prior to the industrial revolution.
While the findings underscore the oceans' vital role in capturing and distributing solar heat and mitigating climate change, the researchers caution that the positive effects of these natural processes are insufficient to counteract the overwhelming impact of human activity. They stress the urgent need for a drastic reduction in CO2 emissions and other greenhouse gases to combat ongoing global warming.
