Dynamics of pCO 2 and related air-ice CO 2 fluxes in the Arctic coastal zone (Amundsen Gulf, Beaufort Sea)

We present an Arctic seasonal survey of carbon dioxide partial pressure (pCO 2 )dynamics within sea ice brine and related air-ice CO 2 fluxes. The survey was carried outfrom early spring to the beginning of summer in the Arctic coastal waters of the AmundsenGulf. High concentrations of pCO 2 (up to...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of Geophysical Research: Oceans
Main Authors: Geilfus, N-X, Carnat, G, Papakyriakou, T, Tison, J-L, Else, B, Thomas, H, Shadwick, EH, Delille, B
Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
Language:English
Published: Amer Geophysical Union 2012
Subjects:
Earth Sciences
Oceanography
Chemical Oceanography
Arctic
Amundsen Gulf
Beaufort Sea
Sea ice
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1029/2011JC007118
http://ecite.utas.edu.au/77500
Description
Summary:We present an Arctic seasonal survey of carbon dioxide partial pressure (pCO 2 )dynamics within sea ice brine and related air-ice CO 2 fluxes. The survey was carried outfrom early spring to the beginning of summer in the Arctic coastal waters of the AmundsenGulf. High concentrations of pCO 2 (up to 1834 matm) were observed in the sea ice in earlyApril as a consequence of concentration of solutes in brines, CaCO 3 precipitation andmicrobial respiration. CaCO 3 precipitation was detected through anomalies in totalalkalinity (TA) and dissolved inorganic carbon (DIC). This precipitation seems to haveoccurred in highly saline brine in the upper part of the ice cover and in bulk ice. As summerdraws near, the ice temperature increases and brine pCO 3 shifts from a largesupersaturation (1834 matm) to a marked undersaturation (down to almost 0 matm). Thisdecrease was ascribed to brine dilution by ice meltwater, dissolution of CaCO 3 andphotosynthesis during the sympagic algal bloom. The magnitude of the CO 2 fluxes wascontrolled by ice temperature (through its control on brine volume and brine channelsconnectivity) and the concentration gradient between brine and the atmosphere. However,the state of the ice-interface clearly affects air-ice CO 2 fluxes.

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