Gas exchange and CO/sub 2/ flux in the tropical Atlantic Ocean determined from /sup 222/Rn and pCO/sub 2/ measurements

Journal Article · Sat Jul 20 04:00:00 EDT 1985 · JGR, J. Geophys. Res., (Sect.) C:; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1029/JC090iC04p07005· OSTI ID:5987669

Smethie, Jr, W M; Takahashi, T; Chipman, D W; Ledwell, J R

Measurements of /sup 222/Rn vertical profiles and pCO/sub 2/ in the surface water and the atmosphere were made simultaneously in the tropical Atlantic Ocean as part of the TTO/TAS program. The gas exchange rate or piston velocity was determined from the /sup 222/Rn profiles, and the ..delta..pCO/sub 2/ between the surface ocean and the atmosphere was determined from the pCO/sub 2/ measurements. The net flux of CO/sub 2/ across the sea-air interface was calculated from these two data sets. The piston velocity ranged from 1.4 to 6.9 m/d and was correlated with wind speed. The slope of piston velocity versus wind speed was estimated to be between 0.3 and 1.1 (m/d)/(m/s). The ..delta..pCO/sub 2/ ranged from /minus/ 35 ..mu..atm at 15/degree/N, 55/degree/W to + 64 ..mu..atm at 5/degree/S, 28/degree/W, with the zero ..delta..pCO/sub 2/ isopleth located at about 10/degree/N. The high ..delta..pCO/sub 2/ values can be explained by lateral advection of surface water from the east with heating and biological consumption of CO/sub 2/ and alkalinity during transit. The net flux of CO/sub 2/ was into the ocean north of 10/degree/N latitude with values reaching a maximum of 1.4 mol m/sup /minus/2/ yr/sup /minus/1/ at 15/degree/N, 50/degree/W. South of 10/degree/N, the net flux was out of the ocean, reaching a maximum value of 2.7 mol m/sup /minus/2/ yr/sup /minus/1/ at 8/degree/S, 28/degree/W. The average net flux from 10/degree/N to 10/degree/S was 1.3 mol m/sup /minus/2/ yr/sup /minus/1/ out of the ocean, which is equivalent to 0.15 gigatons of carbon per year if the flux determined applied throughout the year. 56 refs., 16 figs., 4 tabs.ss

• Research Organization: Lamont-Doherty Geological Observatory of Columbia University, Palisades, NY; NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, Institute for Space Studies, New York, NY
• OSTI ID: 5987669
• Journal Information: JGR, J. Geophys. Res., (Sect.) C:; (United States), Journal Name: JGR, J. Geophys. Res., (Sect.) C:; (United States) Vol. 90:C4; ISSN JJGAD
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

500200* -- Environment
Atmospheric-- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport-- (-1989)
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
AIR-WATER INTERACTIONS
ALPHA DECAY RADIOISOTOPES
ATLANTIC OCEAN
CARBON COMPOUNDS
CARBON DIOXIDE
CARBON OXIDES
CHALCOGENIDES
DAYS LIVING RADIOISOTOPES
DIFFUSION
EVEN-EVEN NUCLEI
GLOBAL ASPECTS
HEAVY NUCLEI
ISOTOPES
NUCLEI
OXIDES
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
PARTIAL PRESSURE
QUANTITY RATIO
RADIOISOTOPES
RADON 222
RADON ISOTOPES
SEAS
SURFACE WATERS
WIND