Seasonal variation of CO[sub 2] and nutrients in the high-latitude surface oceans: A comparative study

Journal Article · Wed Dec 01 04:00:00 EST 1993 · Global Biogeochemical Cycles; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1029/93GB02263· OSTI ID:6955993

Takahashi, T; Goddard, J G; Chipman, D W; Sutherland, S C ^[1]; Olafsson, J ^[2]

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1. Columbia Univ., Palisades, NY (United States)
2. Marine Research Institute, Reykjavik (Iceland)

Seasonal data for pCO[sub 2] and the concentrations of CO[sub 2] and nutrients in high-latitude surface oceans obtained by the Lamont-Doherty CO[sub 2] group and Marine Research Institute, Reykjavik, are presented and analyzed. The seasonal variations are described, and their inter-ocean variation is compared. Spring phytoplankton blooms in the North Atlantic Ocean and Iceland Sea caused a precipitous reduction of surface water pCO[sub 2] and the concentrations of CO[sub 2] and nutrients within two weeks, and proceeded until nutrient salts were exhausted. This seasonal behavior is limited to the high-latitude North Atlantic Ocean and adjoining seas. In contrast, seasonal changes in CO[sub 2] and nutrients were more gradual in the North Pacific and the nutrients were only partially consumed in North Pacific Ocean and Southern Ocean. the magnitude of seasonal changes in nutrient concentrations in the North Pacific and Southern Oceans was similar to that observed in the North Atlantic. In subpolar and polar waters of the North and South Atlantic and North Pacific Oceans, pCO[sub 2] and the concentrations of CO[sub 2] and nutrients were much higher during winter than summer. During winter, the high latitude areas of the North Atlantic, North Pacific, and Weddell Seas were sources for atmospheric CO[sub 2]; during summer, they became CO[sub 2] sinks, attributed to the upwelling of deep waters rich in CO[sub 2] and nutrients during winter, and the intense photosynthesis during summer. Subtropical waters were a CO[sub 2] source in summer and a sink in winter. Since these waters were depleted of nutrients only sustaining low levels of primary production, seasonal variation of pCO[sub 2] in subtropical waters and the CO[sub 2] sink/source condition were governed primarily by temperature. An intense CO[sub 2] sink zone was found along the subtropical convergence. 59 refs., 24 figs., 2 tabs.

• DOE Contract Number: FG02-90ER60943; FG02-92ER61397; FG02-93ER61539
• OSTI ID: 6955993
• Journal Information: Global Biogeochemical Cycles; (United States), Journal Name: Global Biogeochemical Cycles; (United States) Vol. 7:4; ISSN GBCYEP; ISSN 0886-6236
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
540320* -- Environment
Aquatic-- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport-- (1990-)
ATLANTIC OCEAN
CARBON COMPOUNDS
CARBON DIOXIDE
CARBON OXIDES
CHALCOGENIDES
DEVELOPING COUNTRIES
ECOLOGICAL CONCENTRATION
EUROPE
GEOGRAPHICAL VARIATIONS
GLOBAL ASPECTS
ICELAND
ISLANDS
LATITUDE EFFECT
NUTRIENTS
OXIDES
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
PACIFIC OCEAN
SEAS
SEASONAL VARIATIONS
SURFACE WATERS
VARIATIONS
WESTERN EUROPE