The carbonic system distribution and fluxes in the NE Atlantic during Spring 1991

• Published in: Progress in Oceanography
• Main Authors: Ríos, Aida F., Anderson, Thomas R., Pérez, Fiz F.
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier 1995
• Subjects: North Atlantic
• Online Access: http://hdl.handle.net/10261/59975; https://doi.org/10.1016/0079-6611(95)80001-A

20 páginas, 3 tablas, 12 figuras The potential of the North Atlantic as a sink for atmospheric CO, was investigated hystudyinatbecarbonicsystemusingdamobtzinedduringthespnngof 1991.Tbeti.seafluxofC0, was related to chlorophyll and other enviromuental variables, and tbe regeneration of carbon in the mid-ocemr studied by examining vertical sections representative of the study area. Poor ccmelations were found between pC0, and cbloropbylf throughout much of the study area, aIthougb agood correlation wa? found along 1 VW. Tbe highest air-sea fluxes ofC0, were cakulatcd for areas where cbloropbyll was highest (45”13’N, 16”04’W), and where the greatest wind speeds occuned(4705l’N,280l8’W~.ThemeanCO,fluxfromIheaunospberetotheoce;loduringthestudy period (May) was calculated as 0.65mmol m-*d-l,w hich compares well with other studies. Regression equations were developed to predict total inorganic carbon from nutrients; errors were typically less tbau Ipmol kg’. Kegeneradonofcarbon in tbemld-oceauoccurredin two principal stages: O-IOCQm and>2300m.Reeeuera~onintheupperzonewasdominatedbysofttissuecarbon(86~), witbskeletal carbon(calcite)conCributingonly 14%.Tbefractionofregeneratedcafbonofskeletalorigb1increased to 5 I Qn in the >23OOm zone. EC MAST CTPO-0017 and MAR&245 projects supported by EEC and CICYT Peer reviewed