Sources and sinks of carbon dioxide in the Arctic regions

• Main Authors: Gosink, T. A., Kelley, J. J.
• Language: unknown
• Published: 2013
• Subjects: 54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES; CARBON DIOXIDE; CARBON CYCLE; POLLUTION SOURCES; SINKS; AIR-WATER INTERACTIONS; ARCTIC REGIONS; ECOLOGICAL CONCENTRATION; ICE; TROPOSPHERE; CARBON COMPOUNDS; CARBON OXIDES; CHALCOGENIDES; EARTH ATMOSPHERE; OXIDES; OXYGEN COMPOUNDS; POLAR REGIONS; Arctic; Sea ice; Subarctic
• Online Access: http://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/5250605; https://www.osti.gov/biblio/5250605; https://doi.org/10.2172/5250605

The data base required to adequately ascertain seasonal source and sink strengths in the arctic regions is difficult to obtain. However, there are now a reasonable quantity of data for this polar region to estimate sources and sinks within the Arctic which may contribute significantly to the annual tropospheric CO/sub 2/ concentration fluctuation. The sea-ice-air and the sea-air interfaces account for most of the contribution to the sources and sinks for carbon dioxide. Although the arctic and subarctic region is small in extent, it certainly is not impervious and ice sealed. Our estimate, based on historical data and current research, indicates that the Arctic, which is about 4% of the earth's surface, is an annual net sink for approx. 10/sup 15/ g CO/sub 2/ accounting for an equivalent of approx. 3% of the annual anthropogenic contribution of CO/sub 2/ to the troposphere.