Global carbon cycles show rising CO2 fluctuations in oceans and Antarctica

New research highlights significant shifts in global carbon cycles across different environments. In the Indian Ocean, data from the Indian National Centre for Ocean Information Services shows that seasonal CO2 exchange in equatorial waters increased by 48% between 1980 and 2019. This shift affects the ocean's capacity to act as a climate reservoir. Specifically, seasonal variation in the southern Indian Ocean rose by 23%, while the Arabian Sea saw a 14% decrease in annual oscillations.

Simultaneously, studies in Antarctica's Taylor Valley reveal a rapid increase in geogenic CO2 emissions from deep geological sources through the permafrost. Research published in Global Biogeochemical Cycles indicates that average CO2 flux rose from 1.73 grams per square meter per day in 2020 to 9.49 grams in 2025, representing a 5.5-fold increase. This degasification process is driven by deep geological carbon sources rather than biological activity alone.