Editors’ Highlights are summaries of recent papers by AGU’s journal editors.

Source: AGU Advances

The Southern Ocean’s role in global climate and biogeochemical cycles is significantly influenced by mesoscale eddies – rotating vortices of water that persist for months. Keppler et al. [2024] combine satellite observations of over three million such eddies with biogeochemical measurements from autonomous floats to quantify their impact. Their analysis reveals how eddy dynamics create distinct patterns: anticyclonic eddies push surface waters downward, reducing local concentrations of dissolved inorganic carbon and nutrients, while cyclonic eddies pull deeper waters upward, enriching surface waters. These effects extend to 1,500 meters and show important seasonal and regional variations. While the net impact of eddies on Southern Ocean carbon uptake is modest (around 5% of the total), their influence can be substantial in specific seasons and regions. The study provides crucial insights for improving climate models and understanding marine ecosystem dynamics.

Citation: Keppler, L., Eddebbar, Y. A., Gille, S. T., Guisewhite, N., Mazloff, M. R., Tamsitt, V., et al. (2024). Effects of mesoscale eddies on southern ocean biogeochemistry. AGU Advances, 5, e2024AV001355. https://doi.org/10.1029/2024AV001355

—Susan Trumbore, outgoing Editor-in-Chief, AGU Advances

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