Subtle temperature difference between ‘ocean skin’ and water beneath it creates interface that leads to more CO2 absorption

A sliver of cool surface water less than 2mm deep helps oceans absorb carbon dioxide, a British-led team of scientists has established after months of voyages across the Atlantic painstakingly measuring gas and temperature levels.

The subtle difference in temperature between the “ocean skin” and the layer of water beneath it creates an interface that leads to more CO₂ being taken in, the scientists observed.