The data, published in the Dec. 10 issue of the journal Science , also shows that El Ni o dramatically reduced the amount of carbon dioxide normally released into the atmosphere by the equatorial Pacific Ocean. Unlike most of the world's oceans, the equatorial Pacific is usually a major contributor to atmospheric carbon dioxide due to relatively low levels of biological activity and deep ocean waters, rich in nutrients and carbon dioxide, that rise to the surface under normal weather conditions. El Ni o prevented any upwelling of these waters, thus little carbon dioxide was released into the atmosphere. Researchers calculate that the amount of carbon dioxide released into the atmosphere by the equatorial Pacific during the year of El Ni o was 700 million metric tons less than that of the previous year. This is equivalent to half of all annual carbon dioxide emissions from fossil fuel burning in the United States.
Scientists have yet to determine how much carbon the oceans and land can absorb.
Another unknown is how the Earth's environment will adjust to increasing amounts of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. Studying the distribution and changes in global phytoplankton with the help of ocean color and other tools will help scientists find answers to these questions. SeaWiFS provides daily views of the world's oceans and land masses. In the past 10 years, scientists have been able to observe the development and progress of warm El Ni o events as well as subsequent changes in the upwelling of ocean waters. The data is continuously collected by buoys that are part of the Tropical Atmosphere Ocean array maintained by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.