Magnetic effect on CO(2) solubility in seawater: A possible link between geomagnetic field variations and climate

Pazur, Alexander und Winklhofer, Michael (2008): Magnetic effect on CO(2) solubility in seawater: A possible link between geomagnetic field variations and climate. In: Geophysical Research Letters, Vol. 35, No. 16

Abstract

Correlations between geomagnetic-field and climate parameters have beensuggested repeatedly, but possible links are controversially discussed.Here we test if weak (Earth-strength) magnetic fields can affectclimatically relevant properties of seawater. We found the solubility ofair in seawater to be by 15\% lower under reduced magnetic-field (20 muT) compared to normal field conditions (50 mu T). The magnetic-fieldeffect on CO(2) solubility is twice as large, from which we surmise thatgeomagnetic field variations modulate the carbon exchange betweenatmosphere and ocean. A 1\% reduction in magnetic dipole moment mayrelease up to ten times more CO(2) from the surface ocean than isemitted by subaerial volcanism. This figure is dwarfed in front ofanthropogenic CO(2) emissions.

• Item Type: Journal article
• Faculties: Geosciences > Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences > Crystallography and Materials Science
• Subjects: 500 Science > 550 Earth sciences and geology
• Language: English