Global ocean carbon uptake enhanced by rainfall

Abstract

Rain alters local sea surface physical and biogeochemical properties but its spatiotemporal variability has led to its overlook in global ocean carbon uptake studies. Different physical and chemical processes in the gaseous and liquid phases control the transfer of carbon dioxide (CO2) between the atmosphere and ocean. Rain impacts the interfacial flux by (1) increasing turbulence in the ocean and (2) modulating the air–sea CO2 concentration gradient. Concurrently, raindrops inject CO2 absorbed during their fall into the ocean through wet deposition. Here this study presents a comprehensive estimate of these effects on the global ocean carbon uptake over 2008–2018 based on observational products (satellite and in situ) and reanalysis. Using various representations of the ocean surface response to rainfall and different rain products, we show that rain increases the ocean carbon sink by +0.14–0.19 PgC yr−1 over 2008–2018, representing an increase of 5–7% of the ocean carbon uptake (2.66 PgC yr−1). Rain-induced interfacial flux and wet deposition have comparable orders of magnitude. The former mainly increases the CO2 sink in the tropics because strong rain rates and weak winds induce noticeable salinity and CO2 dilution. The latter is important in the tropics, storm track regions and the Southern Ocean. About 6% of the total uptake of carbon dioxide by the ocean is due to rainfall, according to an analysis of satellite observations and ERA5 reanalysis data from 2008 to 2018.