CO/sub 2/ fluxes in the tropical Atlantic during FOCAL cruises

Journal Article · Wed Oct 15 04:00:00 EDT 1986 · J. Geophys. Res.; (United States)

OSTI ID:6085685

Andrie, C; Oudot, C; Genthon, C; Merlivat, L

CO/sub 2/ partial pressures in the atmosphere and in surface seawater have been measured in the equatorial Atlantic Ocean during Programme Francais Ocean-Climat en Atlantique Equatorial cruises extending from July 1982 to August 1984 along the 4/degree/W, 22/degree/W, and 35/degree/W meridians. Gas transfer coefficients based on recently reported field data combined with information deduced from wind tunnel experiments are used to compute the CO/sub 2/ fluxes. The global mean net flux between 5/degree/N and 5/degree/S is equal to 1.05 mmol m/sup /minus/2/ d/sup /minus/1/ and is from the ocean to the atmosphere. The escape of CO/sub 2/ increases strongly from the east to the west and is always lower in the north than in the south. The importance of wind speed, pCO/sub 2/ in atmosphere, PCO/sub 2/ in surface seawater, and temperature on the flux variability is discussed. The relative influence of the equatorial upwelling on one hand and of the advection and warming of surface waters on the other hand is studied in order to explain high partial pressure in seawater. 59 refs., 15 figs., 5 tabs.

• Research Organization: Laboratoire d'Oceanographie Dynamique et de Climatologie, Departement de Physico-Chimie, Gif-sur-Yvette, France; Office de la Recherche Scientifique et Technique d'Outre-Mer, Dakar, Senegal; Laboratoire d'Oceanographie Dynamique et de Climatologie, Departement de Physico-Chimie, Gif-sur-Yvette, France
• OSTI ID: 6085685
• Journal Information: J. Geophys. Res.; (United States), Journal Name: J. Geophys. Res.; (United States) Vol. 91:C10; ISSN JGREA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

500100* -- Environment
Atmospheric-- Basic Studies-- (-1989)
520100 -- Environment
Aquatic-- Basic Studies-- (-1989)
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
58 GEOSCIENCES
580500 -- Oceanography-- (1980-1989)
AIR-WATER INTERACTIONS
ATLANTIC OCEAN
CARBON COMPOUNDS
CARBON DIOXIDE
CARBON OXIDES
CHALCOGENIDES
ECOLOGICAL CONCENTRATION
FIELD TESTS
GLOBAL ASPECTS
MASS TRANSFER
OXIDES
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
SEAS
SURFACE WATERS
TESTING
VARIATIONS