Carbon dioxide in Arctic and subarctic regions
A three year research project was presented that would define the role of the Arctic ocean, sea ice, tundra, taiga, high latitude ponds and lakes and polar anthropogenic activity on the carbon dioxide content of the atmosphere. Due to the large physical and geographical differences between the two polar regions, a comparison of CO/sub 2/ source and sink strengths of the two areas was proposed. Research opportunities during the first year, particularly those aboard the Swedish icebreaker, YMER, provided additional confirmatory data about the natural source and sink strengths for carbon dioxide in the Arctic regions. As a result, the hypothesis that these natural sources and sinks are strong enough to significantly affect global atmospheric carbon dioxide levels is considerably strengthened. Based on the available data we calculate that the whole Arctic region is a net annual sink for about 1.1 x 10/sup 15/ g of CO/sub 2/, or the equivalent of about 5% of the annual anthropogenic input into the atmosphere. For the second year of this research effort, research on the seasonal sources and sinks of CO/sub 2/ in the Arctic will be continued. Particular attention will be paid to the seasonal sea ice zones during the freeze and thaw periods, and the tundra-taiga regions, also during the freeze and thaw periods.
- Research Organization:
- Alaska Univ., Fairbanks (United States). Geophysical Inst.
- Sponsoring Organization:
- USDOE
- DOE Contract Number:
- AT06-80EV10429
- OSTI ID:
- 6795444
- Report Number(s):
- DOE/EV/10429-1
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
ARCTIC REGIONS
CARBON CYCLE
RESEARCH PROGRAMS
CARBON DIOXIDE
ECOLOGICAL CONCENTRATION
EARTH ATMOSPHERE
POLLUTION SOURCES
SEAS
SEASONAL VARIATIONS
SINKS
SURFACE WATERS
CARBON COMPOUNDS
CARBON OXIDES
CHALCOGENIDES
OXIDES
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
POLAR REGIONS
VARIATIONS
500200* - Environment
Atmospheric- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport- (-1989)