UPDATE: A groundbreaking study has just revealed that the Southern Ocean emits a staggering **40% more carbon dioxide (CO2)** during the Antarctic winter than previously believed. This urgent finding, published on **November 5, 2025**, in the journal **Science Advances**, has significant implications for global climate models and our understanding of the carbon cycle.
Researchers from the **Chinese Academy of Sciences**, including the **Second Institute of Oceanography** and the **Nanjing Institute of Geography and Limnology**, have utilized advanced **laser satellite technology** to uncover this critical data during a time when the region is plunged into darkness and extreme weather makes traditional measurements nearly impossible.
For years, the Southern Ocean has been considered a “black box” for scientists, with its winter emissions largely underestimated due to a lack of direct observations. The new study highlights the urgent need to reevaluate global carbon emissions models to account for these previously hidden emissions.
The researchers employed **14 years of data** from a laser-based satellite instrument called **LIDAR**, which functions by sending out its own light signals, enabling observations even in the polar night. This innovative approach has created the first continuous record of winter CO2 exchange in the Southern Ocean, revealing just how significant this source of emissions is.
Professor Kun Shi of the Nanjing Institute emphasizes the study’s impact: “Our findings suggest that the Southern Ocean’s role in the global carbon cycle is more complex and dynamic than previously known.” The results challenge existing assumptions and call for immediate reassessment of carbon dynamics in this vital region.
The research introduces a new **”three-loop framework”** that describes how CO2 exchange varies across different areas of the Southern Ocean. In the **Antarctic Loop** (south of **60°S**), factors such as sea ice and salinity dominate. The **Polar Front Loop** (between **45°S and 60°S**) shows a stronger interaction between atmospheric CO2 and biological activity, while the **Subpolar Loop** (north of **45°S**) is primarily influenced by sea surface temperature.
These revelations have vast implications for climate projections, as they could lead to more accurate global carbon budgets, crucial for organizations like the **Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC)**. By bridging the data gap, researchers can improve predictions about climate impacts, making this study an urgent call to action for scientists and policymakers alike.
The innovative use of **machine learning** in conjunction with active satellite sensing not only sheds light on the Southern Ocean but opens doors for similar studies in other remote regions, emphasizing the importance of continuous monitoring in our changing climate.
As this story develops, the scientific community is urged to integrate these findings into climate models to better understand and mitigate the effects of climate change globally. Stay tuned for more updates on this crucial topic as researchers continue to explore the complexities of our planet’s carbon cycles.
