Is Amundsen-Bellingshausen Seas-Low affecting trace gas air-sea fluxes in the Antarctic Ocean?

• Published in: Deep-sea research. Part I, Oceanographic research papers Vol. 183; p. 103725
• Main Author: Valsala, Vinu
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier Ltd 01.05.2022
• Subjects: ABSL; Amundsen-Bellingshausen Seas-Low; Antarctic ocean; Chlorofluorocarbon; SAM; Amundsen-Bellingshausen Seas-Low; Chlorofluorocarbon; Antarctic ocean; ABSL; SAM
• ISSN: 0967-0637; 1879-0119
• DOI: 10.1016/j.dsr.2022.103725

Observations of chlorofluorocarbon in the Antarctic Ocean and a concomitant analysis of its life history for the past 80 years reveal the recently identified Amundsen-Bellingshausen Seas Low (ABSL) persuaded the invasion of chlorofluorocarbon in the Antarctic/Southern Ocean sectors. Two distinct roles of ABSL in trace gas fluxes in the Antarctic Ocean are identified; (a) ABSL helps to localize the prominent invasion zones of trace gases in the Antarctic sector to specific areas over the Amundsen-Bellingshausen Seas, (b) it modulates the ‘grip’ of southern annular mode in trace gas fluxes of the Antarctic Ocean. The ABSL region is a gateway to ∼25% of southern hemispheric chlorofluorocarbon invading the ocean. The study has implications on trace gas fluxes and their Antarctic sector changes under present and future climate. •Amundsen-Bellingshausen Seas (ABS) region is a critical zone for trace gas entry into the Antarctic/Southern Ocean Sectors.•The ABS Low organizes trace gas fluxes over this region and control the ‘grip’ of SAM on gas fluxes of the Antarctic Ocean.•∼25% of southern hemisphere oceanic CFCs entered through ABS despite the small size compared to the southern ocean.