Carbonate system properties in the Gerlache Strait, Northern Antarctica Peninsula

• Published in: Deep Sea Research Part II: Topical Studies in Oceanography
• Main Authors: Kerr, Rodrigo, Orselli, Lole B.M, Marquez Lencina Avila, Jannine, T.Eidt, Renata, B.Mendes, Carlos Rafael, Leticia Cotrim da Cunha, Goyet, Catherine, M.Mata, Mauricio, Tavano Garcia, Virginia
• Other Authors: Universidade Federal do Rio Grande (FURG), Institut de Modélisation et d'Analyses en géo-environnement et santé - Espace Développement (IMAGES-Espace DEV), UMR 228 Espace-Dev, Espace pour le développement, Institut de Recherche pour le Développement (IRD)-Université de Perpignan Via Domitia (UPVD)-Avignon Université (AU)-Université de La Réunion (UR)-Université de Montpellier (UM)-Université de Guyane (UG)-Université des Antilles (UA)-Institut de Recherche pour le Développement (IRD)-Université de Perpignan Via Domitia (UPVD)-Avignon Université (AU)-Université de La Réunion (UR)-Université de Montpellier (UM)-Université de Guyane (UG)-Université des Antilles (UA)
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: HAL CCSD 2017
• Subjects: Oceanography; sea–air carbon dioxide (CO2) fluxes; the Gerlache Strait; Northern Antarctica Peninsula; [SDU]Sciences of the Universe [physics]; [SDU.STU]Sciences of the Universe [physics]/Earth Sciences; [SDU.STU.OC]Sciences of the Universe [physics]/Earth Sciences/Oceanography; Antarc*; Antarctic; Antarctic Peninsula; Antarctica
• Online Access: https://univ-perp.hal.science/hal-01484642; https://doi.org/10.1016/j.dsr2.2017.02.008

International audience Hydrographic and carbonate system properties were determined in the Gerlache Strait—a coastal site in the Northern Antarctic Peninsula (NAP)—during early February 2015. It was part of an effort to monitor changes in marine inorganic carbon chemistry in Antarctic coastal zones. Here we describe surface observations performed during the NAUTILUS I cruise and compare results with earlier studies in the region. The focus of this first part of this study is to describe the spatial patterns of sea–air carbon dioxide (CO2) fluxes and relating the results with physical-chemical and biological parameters. In order to determine the CO2 fluxes, we use several available parameterizations for estimation of the gas transfer velocity coefficient, thus providing a range of the results’ uncertainties. Contrasting with results found twenty years ago, the Gerlache Strait was estimated here to be a monthly net source for CO2 of 0.50 ± 0.45 mol m−2 month−1 during February 2015, based on shipboard wind measurements and Wanninkhof’s (2014) gas transfer velocity relationship. That was probably driven by to warm water intrusions in combination with a phytoplankton community mainly dominated by small flagellates (particularly cryptophytes). Yet, in order to determine whether the region acts as an annual sink or source of CO2, there is a need for additional studies focusing on short time-scales throughout a year.