Publication Date:
2018-03-15
Description:
CO2 partial pressure in surface water was measured in the Northeast Atlantic and in the Hebride Shelf/North Sea area during a cruise with R.V. Poseidon in June 1991. A mean pCO2 of 303 μatm was found in the Atlantic between 50°N and 60°N. For an atmospheric CO2 content of 357.5 ppm(v) this corresponds to a partial pressure difference of −55 μatm. This supports the view that the subarctic Atlantic is a significant sink within the CO2 cycle between the ocean and the atmosphere. A comparison of our measurements with other data reveals that the pCO2 distribution changes significantly during May/June. This explained by seasonal warming, CO2 exchange with the atmosphere and biomass production. The contribution by each of these processes to the seasonal variations is calculated. It was found that during a plankton bloom the production of biomass is the dominating factor and may lower seawater pCO2 by almost 100 μatm. The shelf areas are charactrized by strong pCO2 gradients which are explained by water exchange with the Atlantic, temperature effects and biomass production.
Type:
Article
,
PeerReviewed
Format:
text
