Large volcanic eruptions drive significant climate perturbations through; major anomalies in radiative fluxes and the resulting widespread cooling; of the surface and upper ocean. Recent studies suggest that these; eruptions also drive important variability in air-sea carbon and oxygen; fluxes. By simulating the Earth system using two initial-condition large; ensembles, with and without the aerosol forcing associated with the Mt.; Pinatubo eruption in June 1991, we isolate the impact of this event on; ocean physical and biogeochemical properties. The Mt. Pinatubo eruption; generated significant anomalies in surface fluxes and the ocean interior; inventories of heat, oxygen, and carbon. Pinatubo-driven changes persist; for multiple years in the upper ocean and permanently modify the ocean’s; heat, oxygen, and carbon inventories. Positive anomalies in oxygen; concentrations emerge immediately post-eruption and penetrate into the; deep ocean. In contrast, carbon anomalies intensify in the upper ocean; over several years post-eruption, and are largely confined to the upper; 150 m. In the tropics and northern high latitudes, the change in oxygen; is dominated by surface cooling and subsequent ventilation to; mid-depths, while the carbon anomaly is associated with solubility; changes and eruption-generated ENSO variability. Our results indicate; that Pinatubo does not substantially impact oxygen or carbon in the; Southern Ocean; forced signals do not emerge from the large internal; variability in this region.
