Calcium carbonate saturation states along the West Antarctic Peninsula

• Published in: Antarctic Science
• Main Authors: Jones, Elizabeth M., Hoppema, Mario, Bakker, Karel, de Baar, Hein J.W.
• Other Authors: European Community’s Seventh Framework Programme
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Cambridge University Press (CUP) 2021
• Subjects: Antarctic; Antarctic Peninsula; Antarc*; Antarctic Science; Sea ice
• Online Access: http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/s0954102021000456; https://www.cambridge.org/core/services/aop-cambridge-core/content/view/S0954102021000456

Abstract The waters along the West Antarctic Peninsula (WAP) have experienced warming and increased freshwater inputs from melting sea ice and glaciers in recent decades. Challenges exist in understanding the consequences of these changes on the inorganic carbon system in this ecologically important and highly productive ecosystem. Distributions of dissolved inorganic carbon (C T ), total alkalinity (A T ) and nutrients revealed key physical, biological and biogeochemical controls of the calcium carbonate saturation state (Ω aragonite ) in different water masses across the WAP shelf during the summer. Biological production in spring and summer dominated changes in surface water Ω aragonite (ΔΩ aragonite up to +1.39; ~ 90%) relative to underlying Winter Water. Sea-ice and glacial meltwater constituted a minor source of A T that increased surface water Ω aragonite (ΔΩ aragonite up to +0.07; ~ 13%). Remineralization of organic matter and an influx of carbon-rich brines led to cross-shelf decreases in Ω aragonite in Winter Water and Circumpolar Deep Water. A strong biological carbon pump over the shelf created Ω aragonite oversaturation in surface waters and suppression of Ω aragonite in subsurface waters. Undersaturation of aragonite occurred at < ~1000 m. Ongoing changes along the WAP will impact the biologically driven and meltwater-driven processes that influence the vulnerability of shelf waters to calcium carbonate undersaturation in the future.