Carbon Dioxide and Primary Productivity in the Glacial Fiord System of Southeast Alaska

• Main Authors: Longerich,Linda L., Billington,Margaret M., Alexander,Vera A., Kelley,John J.
• Other Authors: ALASKA UNIV COLLEGE INST OF MARINE SCIENCE
• Format: Text
• Language: English
• Published: 1971
• Subjects: Physical and Dynamic Oceanography; Hydrology; Limnology and Potamology; (*SEA WATER; CARBON DIOXIDE); (*BAYS; *CARBON DIOXIDE); GLACIERS; ALGAE; MARINE BIOLOGY; TRACER STUDIES; ALASKA; LIMNOLOGY; FIORDS; *DISSOLVED GASES; Pacific; Aleutian Island; glaciers; Alaska
• Online Access: http://www.dtic.mil/docs/citations/AD0734672; http://oai.dtic.mil/oai/oai?&verb=getRecord&metadataPrefix=html&identifier=AD0734672

The equilibrium concentration of CO2 in surface sea waters CO2 has been recently measured for the North Pacific Ocean, the coastal waters near the Aleutian Island chain, the Alaska Peninsula, and southcentral Alaska. Of the many varied Alaskan coastal areas investigated, one notable omission has been the glacial fiord area of Southeastern Alaska. Thus early spring studies of carbon dioxide concentrations and primary productivity were made in this glacial fiord system. It was found that the surface waters of Auke Bay at the beginning of the spring bloom had a lower CO2 concentration and higher particulate nitrogen and 14C-HCO3 uptake than the more open waters surrounding it. Surface water CO2 in a glacial outflow area was unexpectedly low compared to values for surface seawater in a normal fresh water stream outflow. An example of wind induced upwelling was noted. (Author)