Influence of Climatic and Oceanographic Parameters on CO2 Exchanges at the Air-sea Interface in the Gulf of Guinea

Abstract

Aims: Analyze the climatic and oceanographic parameters influencing oceanic CO2. Place and Duration of Study: Gulf of Guinea, 2010-2018 Methodology: Analysis of Monthly Satellite Data from the Gulf of Guinea on Sea Surface Temperature, Sea Surface Salinity, Sea Surface Chlorophyll, Sea Surface Partial Pressure of CO2, Sea Surface Wind Speed at 10 meters, Dry Air Molar Fraction (xCO2), and Sea Level Pressure. Numerical Data Processing on a One-Degree Spatial Resolution Grid Using Python 3.11 through Bilinear Interpolation. The data are then averaged monthly, allowing for an assessment of the intra-monthly variability of oceanic parameters. Results: Physical parameters (salinity, temperature, wind speed), hydrological parameters (chlorophyll-a and ocean surface partial pressure of CO2) are characterized by strong seasonal and spatial variability, modulated by phenomena such as seasonal upwelling and thermal stratification, which directly influence CO2 fluxes at the air-sea interface, with minor differences between coastal areas and offshore regions. Conclusion: Climatic and oceanographic parameters act synergistically to modulate CO2 exchanges between the ocean and the atmosphere. Integrating these parameters into climate models will improve the accuracy of global climate change predictions.