Methane and carbon monoxide production, oxidation, and turnover times in the Caribbean Sea as influenced by the Orinoco River

Journal Article · Mon Feb 15 00:00:00 EST 1993 · Journal of Geophysical Research; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1029/92JC02769· OSTI ID:6700271

Jones, R D; Amador, J A ^[1]

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1. Florida International Univ., Miami (United States)

The surface distribution of CH[sub 4], photoproduction capacity of seawater for CO, and CH[sub 4] and CO microbial oxidation rates and turnover times were determined for the surface waters of the southeastern Carribean Sea and Gulf of Paria as affected by the Orinoco River. Measurements were made during the spring (low river flow) and the fall (high river flow) in order to determine the influence of Orinoco River discharge on these parameters. Methane concentrations were generally lower in the fall than in the spring. Low CH[sub 4] oxidation rates and similar surface distributions were observed during both seasons. Methane oxidation in the river plume was significantly higher in the fall. Potential CO photoproduction and CO oxidation rates were generally higher during the fall. Possible effects of the Orinoco River on potential CO photoproduction capacity were observed as far as Puerto Rico. Turnover times for CH[sub 4] were in the order of years, whereas CO turnover times were in the order of hours. The Orinoco River has a significant impact on the consumption of CO and CH[sub 4] and the photoproduction of CO in the southeastern Caribbean Sea, presumably resulting from inputs of riverine carbon and nutrients. 22 refs., 2 figs., 2 tabs.

• OSTI ID: 6700271
• Journal Information: Journal of Geophysical Research; (United States), Vol. 98:C2; ISSN 0148-0227
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
CARBON MONOXIDE
ECOLOGICAL CONCENTRATION
CARBON SOURCES
CARIBBEAN SEA
ENVIRONMENTAL TRANSPORT
METHANE
CAPACITY
CARBON
CARBON CYCLE
CLIMATIC CHANGE
DISTRIBUTION
GREENHOUSE GASES
LIFETIME
NUTRIENTS
OXIDATION
PHOTOPRODUCTION
PUERTO RICO
SEASONS
SEAWATER
ALKANES
ATLANTIC OCEAN
BASIC INTERACTIONS
CARBON COMPOUNDS
CARBON OXIDES
CHALCOGENIDES
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
DEVELOPED COUNTRIES
ELECTROMAGNETIC INTERACTIONS
ELEMENTS
GREATER ANTILLES
HYDROCARBONS
HYDROGEN COMPOUNDS
INTERACTIONS
ISLANDS
LATIN AMERICA
MASS TRANSFER
NONMETALS
NORTH AMERICA
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
OXIDES
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
PARTICLE INTERACTIONS
PARTICLE PRODUCTION
SEAS
SURFACE WATERS
USA
WATER
WEST INDIES
540220* - Environment
Terrestrial- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport- (1990-)