Modeling the volcanic signal in the atmospheric CO2 record

There is significant intel annual variability in the atmospheric concentration of carbon dioxide even when the effect of anthropogenic sources has been accounted for. It has been shown that this variability is correlated with the El Nine Southern Oscillation (ENSO) cycle [Bacastow, 1976; Keeling et al., 1995]. However, ther e are periods during the atmospheric CO2 record when this correlation does not hold and CO2 levels ar e much lower than can be explained by the cor relation with ENSO. These periods coincide with major volcanic eruptions. It has been well documented that a major eruption has a cooling effect on the surface and lower troposphere [McCormick, 1992; Hansen et al., 1996]. Her e we show that it is likely that this cooling has a significant and measurable effect on the carbon cycle. We use a coupled general circulation climate-carbon cycle model to study the mechanisms involved. The model simulates the observed temperature and CO2 response of the climate to the 1991 eruption of Mount Pinatubo. The surface cooling due to the eruption leads to reduced soil and plant respiration globally and increased gross primary productivity in the tropics. The result is significant uptake of carbon (1-2 GtC yr(-1)) by the terrestrial biosphere for several years after the eruption. There is no significant variation in uptake or release of carbon by the oceans.