Anthropogenic Carbon in the Arctic Ocean: Perspectives From Different Transient Tracers ...

• Main Authors: Raimondi, Lorenza, Wefing, Anne-Marie, Casacuberta, Núria
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: ETH Zurich 2024
• Subjects: transient tracers; Arctic Ocean; multi-tracer; anthropogenic carbon; transit time distribution; Arctic
• Online Access: https://dx.doi.org/10.3929/ethz-b-000651391; http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11850/651391

In this study we investigated the physical characteristics of the Atlantic layer in the Arctic Ocean (AO) and its role in the distribution and storage of anthropogenic carbon (Cant). The novelty of this work is to use the Transit Time Distribution method (TTD) with the radionuclides 129I and 236U and its comparison to the commonly applied gas tracers, CFC-12 and SF6. Overall, our examination of two distinct tracer pairs, along with the novel TTD method in comparison to a classical approach, revealed a notable agreement, highlighting the robustness of these Cant estimates. The TTD analysis based on radionuclides showed that whereas the Eurasian Basin has shorter transit times and is dominated by strong mixing conditions, the Amerasian Basin is characterized by longer transit times and a strong advective flow. Overall, the Cant concentrations obtained from radionuclides confirm that the distribution in the AO follows its circulation patterns, with higher concentrations in the Eurasian Basin (∼50 μmol kg−1) ... : Journal of Geophysical Research: Oceans, 129 (1) ...