A detailed knowledge of the carbon cycle is an important component in the study of our changing climate. At C-MMACS we have endeavoured to investigate and integrate several components of the carbon cycle – oceanic, terrestrial and atmospheric along with a synthesis of modelling and measurements to elucidate the key processes in the climate system.

The capability to model the complete carbon cycle and its climatic feedback will enable us to make informed choices about climate change mitigation. At C-MMACS we have carried out a comprehensive study of this by integrating high precision data with sophisticated models of the oceanic circulation, carbon cycle, transport and inversion for robust flux estimation.

For the first time in India, carbon flux has been estimated by inverting the data from CO2 measurement stations at Hanle and Pondicherry which has reduced the posteriori uncertainties of these estimates significantly. The group focuses on in-house developed ocean biogeochemistry model which integrates physics, chemistry and biology of the marine system. The current topics of research are:

•     Carbon cycle modelling and measurements for climate change mitigation
•     Ocean biogeochemical modelling