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A committed fourfold increase in ocean oxygen loss

Earth Sciences

A committed fourfold increase in ocean oxygen loss

A. Oschlies

This groundbreaking research by Andreas Oschlies reveals that despite halting CO2 emissions, the deep ocean could still lose over 10% of its oxygen due to historical emissions. Dive into the implications for marine ecosystems and the staggering challenges that lie ahead.

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Playback language: English
Abstract
This study uses millennial-scale model simulations to show that less than a quarter of the ultimate ocean deoxygenation caused by historical CO2 emissions has been realized. Even if CO2 emissions were stopped in 2020, the deep ocean would still lose more than 10% of its pre-industrial oxygen content due to a sluggish overturning circulation increasing water residence times. Surface layer deoxygenation would largely cease with the halt of emissions. Combined effects of committed oxygen loss and warming reduce metabolic viability for marine animals by up to 25% in large deep ocean regions, posing a significant threat to deep-ocean ecosystems.
Publisher
Nature Communications
Published On
Apr 16, 2021
Authors
Andreas Oschlies
Tags
ocean deoxygenation
historical CO2 emissions
marine ecosystems
deep ocean
metabolic viability
overturning circulation
climate impact
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