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Sea-air flux of CO{sub 2} in the North Pacific using shipboard and satellite data

Journal Article · · Journal of Geophysical Research
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1029/95JC00901· OSTI ID:183359
; ;  [1]
  1. Univ. of Miami, FL (United States); and others
A method has been developed to produce high-resolution maps of pCO{sub 2} in surface water for the North Pacific using satellite sea surface temperature (SST) data and statistical relationships between measured pCO{sub 2} and temperature. In the subtropical North Pacific the pCO{sub 2} in seawater is controlled primarily by temperature. Accordingly, pCO{sub 2} values that are calculated from the satellite SST data have good agreement with the measured values (rms deviation of {plus_minus}17{mu}atm). In the northwestern subpolar region the pCO{sub 2} is controlled not only by temperature, but also by significant seasonal changes in the total CO{sub 2} concentration, which are caused by seasonal changes in primary production, mixing with subsurface waters, and sea-air exchange. Consequently, the parameterization of oceanic pCO{sub 2} based on SST data alone is not totally successful in the northwestern region (rms deviation of {plus_minus}40 {mu}atm). The use of additional satellite products, such as wind and ocean color data, as planned for a future study, is considered necessary to account for the pCO{sub 2} variability caused by seasonal changes in the total CO{sub 2} concentration. The net CO{sub 2} flux for the area of the North Pacific included in this study (north of 10{degrees}N) has been calculated using the monthly pCO{sub 2} distributions computed, and monthly wind speeds from the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts. The region is found to be a net source to the atmosphere of 1.9x10{sup 12} to 5.8x10{sup 12} moles of CO{sub 2} per year (or 0.02-0.07 Gt C/yr), most of the outflux occurring in the subtropics.
OSTI ID:
183359
Journal Information:
Journal of Geophysical Research, Journal Name: Journal of Geophysical Research Journal Issue: C7 Vol. 100; ISSN JGREA2; ISSN 0148-0227
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English