Modeling the seasonal variations of surface water CO/sub 2/ in the high-latitude North Atlantic Ocean

Conference · Wed Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1986

OSTI ID:6847540

Peng, Tsung-Hung

Seasonal variations in CO/sub 2/ partial pressure (pCO/sub 2/), total dissolved CO/sub 2/ (TCO/sub 2/), O/sub 2/, nutrients (PO/sub 4/, NO/sub 3/, and SiO/sub 4/), and temperature in surface water have been monitored at two stations, one located to the north and the other to the west of Iceland. Results of observations show that during the summer, pCO/sub 2/, TCO/sub 2/, and nutrients are the lowest, while the O/sub 2/ concentration is the highest. This trend is reversed during the winter. These seasonal variations are mainly the result of a deepening of the mixed layer during the winter and stratification coupled with intense biological activity during the summer. Photosynthetic utilization of the nutrient constituents during the long daylight time of summer in a strongly stratified and shallow surface mixed layer drives these changes. Enhanced mixing of surface water with deeper water during the winter brings the nutrient-rich deep water to the surface. Together with reduced biological activity due to decreased daylight, this mixing brings about higher concentrations of nutrient constituents and a higher TCO/sub 2/ and pCO/sub 2/. A simple box model representing the upper water column was devised to simulate the seasonal variations in the properties of surface water. It is shown that the model prediction of the seasonal variation of CO/sub 2/ and O/sub 2/ is consistent with observations.

• Research Organization: Oak Ridge National Lab., TN (USA)
• DOE Contract Number: AC05-84OR21400
• OSTI ID: 6847540
• Report Number(s): CONF-8608154-1; ON: DE87004063
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

520200* -- Environment
Aquatic-- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport-- (-1989)
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
AMBIENT TEMPERATURE
ATLANTIC OCEAN
CARBON COMPOUNDS
CARBON DIOXIDE
CARBON OXIDES
CHALCOGENIDES
DISSOLVED GASES
ECOLOGICAL CONCENTRATION
ELEMENTS
FLUIDS
GASES
MATHEMATICAL MODELS
NONMETALS
NUTRIENTS
OXIDES
OXYGEN
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
PARTIAL PRESSURE
SEAS
SEASONAL VARIATIONS
SOLUTES
SURFACE WATERS
VARIATIONS