 The Surface Ocean CO2 Atlas (SOCAT)  documents the increase in surface ocean CO2 (carbon dioxide), a critical measure as the oceans are taking up one quarter of the global CO2 emissions from human activity. Synthesis and gridded, quality-controlled products in SOCAT version 2020 contain 28.2 million in situ surface ocean fCO2 (fugacity of CO2) measurements for the global oceans and coastal seas with an accuracy < 5 μatm, while a further 2.3 million fCO2 values with an accuracy of 5 to 10 μatm are made available separately. The SOCAT community-led synthesis product is a key step in the value chain based on in situ inorganic carbon measurements of the oceans, which provides policy makers with essential information on ocean CO2 uptake in climate negotiations. The global need for accurate knowledge of ocean CO2 uptake and its variation makes sustained funding for in situ surface ocean CO2 observations imperative.
Enjoy exploring SOCAT version 2020 here. Figure: a) Newly added and b) all in situ surface water fCO2 values (colour coded, µatm) with an estimated accuracy of < 10 μatm in version 2020. Squares indicate moorings. Find the original figure and further details in the poster handout here.
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