<p>The link between orbital parameters and CO<sub>2</sub> levels is, as you wrote, the temperature. </p>

<p>Orbital parameters may change, via feedback mechanisms, the atmospheric temperature. To my knowledge the most important feedback mechanism with respect to the Milankovich cycles is the ice-albedo feedback. </p>

<p>The temperature, however, is an important player in geochemical feedbacks which influence the concentration of gases like CO<sub>2</sub> or methane. For CO<sub>2</sub>, again to my knowledge, you named the most important feedback; the exchange of CO<sub>2</sub> between atmosphere and ocean. </p>

<p>The exchange of CO<sub>2</sub> between ocean and atmosphere in turn depends on the partial pressure of CO<sub>2</sub> in the atmosphere and the surface layer of the ocean; there is uptake, release according to the pressure gradient.
Now, the partial pressure of CO<sub>2</sub> in the surface layer depends also on the amount of carbon transported or received from the deep sea layers. There is way more CO<sub>2</sub> stored in the cold water of the deep sea. So the exchange of CO<sub>2</sub> does depend on the vertical circulation pattern of the ocean.</p>

<p>There are, to my knowledge, three major mechanisms that transport carbon between the surface and the deep sea and they all depend on temperature.</p>

<p><strong>Solubility pump:</strong> Cold water can store more CO<sub>2</sub> than warm water. Therefore at the poles, where cold water is sinking into the deep sea, you have CO<sub>2</sub> rich water. The CO<sub>2</sub> stored in the deep sea can, as far as I know, remain there for hundreds of years, before it comes up again in the warmer upwelling regions at the equator. The temperature dependence of that mechanism is obvious.</p>

<p><strong>Biological pump</strong>: In the surface layer you have photosynthesis of algeas etc., so carbon is withdrawn from the layer and stored in biomass. A portion of dead plants is not reused (eaten) but sinks into the deep sea. The process is temperature dependend since biological activity depends on temperature.</p>

<p><strong>Carbonate pump</strong>: The amount of carbonate and CO<sub>2</sub> are linked to each other via marine chemistry. Animals building shells etc. need carbonate thereby also influencing the amount of CO<sub>2</sub> present in the water. Again, a portion of this carbonate is withdrawn from the short term cycles once the animals die and sink to the deep sea. Again this mechanism is temperature dependend since biological activity is.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-06-09T14:32:38.940Z
Is there any chance you could go into greater detail about how temperature influences the CO2 levels in the ocean? Is it simply a matter of solubility with temperature?
AlexLipp
CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-06-09T15:02:43.470Z
It's not quite that simple. Oceans store more CO2 in the deep sea than on the surface. The amount of CO2 the ocean withdraws from or releases to the atmosphere depends on the amount of carbon exchanged between surface and the deep sea. There are, as far as I know, mainly three mechanisms at work: the 'solubility pump', the 'biological pump' and the 'carbonate pump'. All three do depend on temperature.
taupunkt
CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-06-09T15:11:39.203Z
So essentially the CO2 is being cycled through the deep oceans and the atmosphere, and changes in insolation due to orbital mechanics, prevent it being either released into the atmosphere or sequestered into the oceans?

Is there any chance you could go into more detail about the role temperature plays in these 'pumps'. Feel free to add all this to your original answer, it might make it easier for other people to see. Thanks by the way, this is really good!
AlexLipp
CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-06-11T10:36:38.360Z
So, I know found some time to update my answer. Hope it helps.
taupunkt
CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-06-09T14:21:14.003Z
2014-12-05T07:16:20.583Z
2014-12-05T07:16:20.583Z
taupunkt
<p>As in ice core data shows that $CO_2 $ levels have fluctuated on levels correlating to the temperature and ice levels, but I couldn't think of a mechanism for what might be the link between the release of carbon dioxide and other gases, and presumably orbital geometry? </p>

<p>Is it to do with gases dissolved in the oceans? Or the melting of permafrost?</p>

<climate><ice-age><milankovitch-cycles>
Carbon Dioxide levels appear to be linked to the Milankovitch cycles according to Ice Core data but what is the mechanism?
AlexLipp
# Carbon Dioxide levels appear to be linked to the Milankovitch cycles according to Ice Core data but what is the mechanism?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2014-06-07)

As in ice core data shows that $CO\_2 $ levels have fluctuated on levels correlating to the temperature and ice levels, but I couldn't think of a mechanism for what might be the link between the release of carbon dioxide and other gases, and presumably orbital geometry?

Is it to do with gases dissolved in the oceans? Or the melting of permafrost?

**Tags:** climate, ice-age, milankovitch-cycles


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## 1 answers

### Answer by username_1 on 2014-06-09. Score: 9 | Accepted answer

The link between orbital parameters and CO2 levels is, as you wrote, the temperature.

Orbital parameters may change, via feedback mechanisms, the atmospheric temperature. To my knowledge the most important feedback mechanism with respect to the Milankovich cycles is the ice-albedo feedback.

The temperature, however, is an important player in geochemical feedbacks which influence the concentration of gases like CO2 or methane. For CO2, again to my knowledge, you named the most important feedback; the exchange of CO2 between atmosphere and ocean.

The exchange of CO2 between ocean and atmosphere in turn depends on the partial pressure of CO2 in the atmosphere and the surface layer of the ocean; there is uptake, release according to the pressure gradient.
Now, the partial pressure of CO2 in the surface layer depends also on the amount of carbon transported or received from the deep sea layers. There is way more CO2 stored in the cold water of the deep sea. So the exchange of CO2 does depend on the vertical circulation pattern of the ocean.

There are, to my knowledge, three major mechanisms that transport carbon between the surface and the deep sea and they all depend on temperature.

**Solubility pump:** Cold water can store more CO2 than warm water. Therefore at the poles, where cold water is sinking into the deep sea, you have CO2 rich water. The CO2 stored in the deep sea can, as far as I know, remain there for hundreds of years, before it comes up again in the warmer upwelling regions at the equator. The temperature dependence of that mechanism is obvious.

**Biological pump**: In the surface layer you have photosynthesis of algeas etc., so carbon is withdrawn from the layer and stored in biomass. A portion of dead plants is not reused (eaten) but sinks into the deep sea. The process is temperature dependend since biological activity depends on temperature.

**Carbonate pump**: The amount of carbonate and CO2 are linked to each other via marine chemistry. Animals building shells etc. need carbonate thereby also influencing the amount of CO2 present in the water. Again, a portion of this carbonate is withdrawn from the short term cycles once the animals die and sink to the deep sea. Again this mechanism is temperature dependend since biological activity is.

> **Comments:**
> **username_0**: Is there any chance you could go into greater detail about how temperature influences the CO2 levels in the ocean? Is it simply a matter of solubility with temperature?  
> **username_1**: It's not quite that simple. Oceans store more CO2 in the deep sea than on the surface. The amount of CO2 the ocean withdraws from or releases to the atmosphere depends on the amount of carbon exchanged between surface and the deep sea. There are, as far as I know, mainly three mechanisms at work: the 'solubility pump', the 'biological pump' and the 'carbonate pump'. All three do depend on temperature.  
> **username_0**: So essentially the CO2 is being cycled through the deep oceans and the atmosphere, and changes in insolation due to orbital mechanics, prevent it being either released into the atmosphere or sequestered into the oceans?  Is there any chance you could go into more detail about the role temperature plays in these 'pumps'. Feel free to add all this to your original answer, it might make it easier for other people to see. Thanks by the way, this is really good!  
> **username_1**: So, I know found some time to update my answer. Hope it helps.  

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