While the global ocean has long been recognized as a crucial carbon sink, quantifying the exchange of carbon dioxide (CO₂) between the ocean and atmosphere has become one of the most daunting challenges in Earth science. Researchers have labored for decades to capture observations that would help them understand with greater precision how different ocean regions absorb or release carbon. 

A pair of recent studies focused on the California Current Ecosystem have revealed new aspects of these processes, underscoring the value of very frequent observations over long time periods for accurately assessing the changing ocean. The research challenges long-held assumptions about carbon exchange in both open-ocean and nearshore environments, especially in response to events like El Niño, marine heatwaves as well as changing ocean chemistry. 

Read more about the results and impact of these studies at NOAA Research. Learn more about the buoy time series at: CCE1 and CCE2.