A new study in Nature Geoscience suggests that tropical cyclones may shift from releasing carbon dioxide into the atmosphere to absorbing it. While storm winds typically push CO2 out, the cold wakes they leave behind increase the ocean's capacity to take up carbon, a process becoming more dominant as sea surface temperatures rise. This shift is not a climate win. Increased carbon absorption leads to higher ocean acidification, which threatens marine ecosystems and biodiversity. The research indicates that if emissions remain high, this role reversal could occur as early as 2035.
