A study of the South Atlantic Ocean: Circulation and Carbon Variability

• Main Author: Evans, Gavin Rex
• Format: Thesis
• Language: English
• Published: 2013
• Subjects: Antarctic; Drake Passage; Southern Ocean; The Antarctic; Weddell; Antarc*; Antarctica; South Atlantic Ocean
• Online Access: https://eprints.soton.ac.uk/359128/; https://eprints.soton.ac.uk/359128/1/Gavin%2520Rex%2520Evans_PhD_2013.pdf

This analysis indicates that the Southern Ocean provides a trong sink, yet low storage, for atmospheric CO2. The South Atlantic Ocean, in particular, facilitates major interbasin exchange through the interaction of the Antarctic Circumpolar Current (ACC), Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC), Agulhas Current and Weddell Gyre systems. Hydrographic occupations from Drake Passage (WOCE section SR1) in 1990 and 2009, along 30?E from the African continent to Antarctica (WOCE section I6S) in 1996 and 2008 and across 24?S in the Atlantic in 2009 create a ‘box’ and enable comparison between repeat occupations on each box boundary. Calibration factors from GLODAP and CARINA cross-calibration projects were applied for salinity, oxygen and nutrients to 1990 and 1996 occupations.