scholarly journals Processes determining the marine alkalinity and calcium carbonate saturation state distributions

2014 ◽  
Vol 11 (24) ◽  
pp. 7349-7362 ◽  
Author(s):  
B. R. Carter ◽  
J. R. Toggweiler ◽  
R. M. Key ◽  
J. L. Sarmiento
Keyword(s):  
Calcium Carbonate ◽  
The Arctic ◽  
Effect Of Temperature ◽  
Minor Role ◽  
Co2 Solubility ◽  
Saturation State ◽  
Marine System ◽  
Calcite Saturation ◽  
River Mouths ◽  
Arctic Surface

Abstract. We introduce a composite tracer for the marine system, Alk*, that has a global distribution primarily determined by CaCO3 precipitation and dissolution. Alk* is also affected by riverine alkalinity from dissolved terrestrial carbonate minerals. We estimate that the Arctic receives approximately twice the riverine alkalinity per unit area as the Atlantic, and 8 times that of the other oceans. Riverine inputs broadly elevate Alk* in the Arctic surface and particularly near river mouths. Strong net carbonate precipitation results in low Alk* in subtropical gyres, especially in the Indian and Atlantic oceans. Upwelling of dissolved CaCO3-rich deep water elevates North Pacific and Southern Ocean Alk*. We use the Alk* distribution to estimate the variability of the calcite saturation state resulting from CaCO3 cycling and other processes. We show that regional differences in surface calcite saturation state are due primarily to the effect of temperature differences on CO2 solubility and, to a lesser extent, differences in freshwater content and air–sea disequilibria. The variations in net calcium carbonate cycling revealed by Alk* play a comparatively minor role in determining the calcium carbonate saturation state.

scholarly journals Processes determining the marine alkalinity and carbonate saturation distributions

2014 ◽  
Vol 11 (7) ◽  
pp. 11139-11178 ◽  
Author(s):  
B. R. Carter ◽  
J. R. Toggweiler ◽  
R. M. Key ◽  
J. L. Sarmiento
Keyword(s):  
Calcium Carbonate ◽  
Unit Area ◽  
The Arctic ◽  
Carbonate Precipitation ◽  
Temperature Changes ◽  
Deep Waters ◽  
Northern Pacific ◽  
River Mouths ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Arctic Surface

Abstract. We introduce a composite tracer, Alk*, that has a global distribution primarily determined by CaCO3 precipitation and dissolution. Alk* also highlights riverine alkalinity plumes that are due to dissolved calcium carbonate from land. We estimate the Arctic receives approximately twice the riverine alkalinity per unit area as the Atlantic, and 8 times that of the other oceans. Riverine inputs broadly elevate Alk* in the Arctic surface and particularly near river mouths. Strong net carbonate precipitation lowers basin mean Indian and Atlantic Alk*, while upwelling of dissolved CaCO3 rich deep waters elevates Northern Pacific and Southern Ocean Alk*. We use the Alk* distribution to estimate the carbonate saturation variability resulting from CaCO3 cycling and other processes. We show regional variations in surface carbonate saturation are due to temperature changes driving CO2 fluxes and, to a lesser extent, freshwater cycling. Calcium carbonate cycling plays a tertiary role. Monitoring the Alk* distribution would allow us to isolate the impact of acidification on biological calcification and remineralization.

scholarly journals Export of calcium carbonate corrosive waters from the East Siberian Sea

2016 ◽  
Author(s):  
Leif G. Anderson ◽  
Jörgen Ek ◽  
Ylva Ericson ◽  
Christoph Humborg ◽  
Igor Semiletov ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Calcium Carbonate ◽  
Sea Ice ◽  
North Atlantic Ocean ◽  
The Arctic ◽  
High Pco2 ◽  
Low Oxygen ◽  
Saturation State ◽  
Ice Melt ◽  
The North ◽  
Transformation Of Organic Matter

Abstract. The Siberian Shelf Seas are areas of extensive biogeochemical transformation of organic matter, both of marine and terrestrial origin. This in combination with brine production from sea ice formation results in a cold bottom water of relative high salinity and partial pressure of carbon dioxide (pCO2). Data from the SWERUS-C3 expedition compiled on the icebreaker Oden in July to September 2014 show the distribution of such waters at the outer shelf, as well as their export into the deep central Arctic basins. Very high pCO2 water, up to close to 1000 µatm, was observed associated with high nutrients and low oxygen concentrations. Consequently the saturation state of calcium carbonate was low, down to less than 0.8 for calcite and 0.5 for aragonite. Waters undersaturated in aragonite were also observed in the surface in waters at equilibrium with atmospheric CO2, however, at these conditions the cause of under-saturation was low salinity from river runoff and/or sea ice melt. The calcium carbonate corrosive water was observed all along the continental margin and well out into the deep Makarov and Canada Basins at a depth from about 50 m depth in the west to about 150 m in the east. These waters of low aragonite saturation state are traced in historic data to the Canada Basin and in the waters flowing out of the Arctic Ocean north of Greenland and in the western Fram Strait, thus potentially impacting the marine life in the North Atlantic Ocean.

scholarly journals Impact of rapid sea-ice reduction in the Arctic Ocean on the rate of ocean acidification

2012 ◽  
Vol 9 (6) ◽  
pp. 2365-2375 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. Yamamoto ◽  
M. Kawamiya ◽  
A. Ishida ◽  
Y. Yamanaka ◽  
S. Watanabe
Keyword(s):  
Sea Ice ◽  
Arctic Ocean ◽  
Reduction Rate ◽  
Co2 Concentration ◽  
The Arctic ◽  
Saturation State ◽  
Aragonite Saturation ◽  
The Arctic Ocean ◽  
Arctic Surface ◽  
Sea Ice Reduction

Abstract. The largest pH decline and widespread undersaturation with respect to aragonite in this century due to uptake of anthropogenic carbon dioxide in the Arctic Ocean have been projected. The reductions in pH and aragonite saturation state in the Arctic Ocean have been caused by the melting of sea ice as well as by an increase in the concentration of atmospheric carbon dioxide. Therefore, future projections of pH and aragonite saturation in the Arctic Ocean will be affected by how rapidly the reduction in sea ice occurs. The observed recent Arctic sea-ice loss has been more rapid than projected by many of the climate models that contributed to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change Fourth Assessment Report. In this study, the impact of sea-ice reduction rate on projected pH and aragonite saturation state in the Arctic surface waters was investigated. Reductions in pH and aragonite saturation were calculated from the outputs of two versions of an Earth system model with different sea-ice reduction rates under similar CO2 emission scenarios. The newer model version projects that Arctic summer ice-free condition will be achieved by the year 2040, and the older version predicts ice-free condition by 2090. The Arctic surface water was projected to be undersaturated with respect to aragonite in the annual mean when atmospheric CO2 concentration reaches 513 (606) ppm in year 2046 (2056) in new (old) version. At an atmospheric CO2 concentration of 520 ppm, the maximum differences in pH and aragonite saturation state between the two versions were 0.1 and 0.21 respectively. The analysis showed that the decreases in pH and aragonite saturation state due to rapid sea-ice reduction were caused by increases in both CO2 uptake and freshwater input. Thus, the reductions in pH and aragonite saturation state in the Arctic surface waters are significantly affected by the difference in future projections for sea-ice reduction rate. Our results suggest that the future reductions in pH and aragonite saturation state could be significantly faster than previously projected if the sea-ice reduction in the Arctic Ocean keeps its present pace.

scholarly journals Coccolithophores and calcite saturation state in the Baltic and Black Seas

2008 ◽  
Vol 5 (2) ◽  
pp. 485-494 ◽  
Author(s):  
T. Tyrrell ◽  
B. Schneider ◽  
A. Charalampopoulou ◽  
U. Riebesell
Keyword(s):  
Calcium Carbonate ◽  
Baltic Sea ◽  
Black Sea ◽  
The Other ◽  
The Black Sea ◽  
Potential Importance ◽  
The Baltic Sea ◽  
Saturation State ◽  
Calcite Saturation ◽  
The Baltic

Abstract. The Baltic and Black Seas are both brackish, that is to say both have salinities intermediate between freshwater and seawater. The coccolithophore Emiliania huxleyi is abundant in one, the Black Sea, but absent from the other, the Baltic Sea. Here we present summertime coccolithophore measurements confirming this difference, as well as data on the calcium carbonate saturation state of the Baltic Sea. We find that the Baltic Sea becomes undersaturated (or nearly so) in winter, with respect to both the aragonite and calcite mineral forms of CaCO3. Data for the Black Sea are more limited, but it appears to remain strongly supersaturated year-round. The absence of E. huxleyi from the Baltic Sea could therefore potentially be explained by dissolution of their coccoliths in winter, suggesting that minimum annual (wintertime) saturation states could be most important in determining future ocean acidification impacts. In addition to this potential importance of winter saturation state, alternative explanations are also possible, either related to differences in salinity or else to differences in silicate concentrations.

scholarly journals Coccolithophores and calcite saturation state in the Baltic and Black Seas

2007 ◽  
Vol 4 (5) ◽  
pp. 3581-3605 ◽  
Author(s):  
T. Tyrrell ◽  
B. Schneider ◽  
A. Charalampopoulou ◽  
U. Riebesell
Keyword(s):  
Calcium Carbonate ◽  
Baltic Sea ◽  
Black Sea ◽  
The Other ◽  
The Black Sea ◽  
Potential Importance ◽  
The Baltic Sea ◽  
Saturation State ◽  
Calcite Saturation ◽  
The Baltic

Abstract. The Baltic and Black Seas are both brackish, that is to say both have salinities intermediate between freshwater and seawater. The coccolithophore Emiliania huxleyi is abundant in one, the Black Sea, but absent from the other, the Baltic Sea. Here we present summertime coccolithophore measurements confirming this difference, as well as data on the calcium carbonate saturation state of the Baltic Sea. We find that the Baltic Sea becomes undersaturated (or nearly so) in winter, with respect to both the aragonite and calcite mineral forms of CaCO3. Data for the Black Sea are more limited, but it appears to remain strongly supersaturated year-round. The absence of E. huxleyi from the Baltic Sea could therefore potentially be explained by dissolution of their coccoliths in winter, suggesting that minimum annual (wintertime) saturation states could be most important in determining future ocean acidification impacts. In addition to this potential importance of winter saturation state, alternative explanations are also possible, either related to differences in salinity or else to differences in silicate concentrations.

scholarly journals Impact of rapid sea-ice reduction in the Arctic Ocean on the rate of ocean acidification

2011 ◽  
Vol 8 (5) ◽  
pp. 10617-10644
Author(s):  
A. Yamamoto ◽  
M. Kawamiya ◽  
A. Ishida ◽  
Y. Yamanaka ◽  
S. Watanabe
Keyword(s):  
Sea Ice ◽  
Arctic Ocean ◽  
Surface Waters ◽  
Co2 Concentration ◽  
The Arctic ◽  
Saturation State ◽  
Aragonite Saturation ◽  
The Arctic Ocean ◽  
Arctic Surface ◽  
Sea Ice Reduction

Abstract. The largest pH decline and widespread undersaturation with respect to aragonite in this century due to uptake of anthropogenic carbon dioxide in the Arctic Ocean have been projected. The reductions in pH and aragonite saturation state have been caused primarily by an increase in the concentration of atmospheric carbon dioxide. However, in a previous study, simulations with and without warming showed that these reductions in the Arctic Ocean also advances due to the melting of sea ice caused by global warming. Therefore, future projections of pH and aragonite saturation in the Arctic Ocean will be affected by how rapidly the reduction in sea ice occurs. In this study, the impact of sea-ice reduction rate on projected pH and aragonite saturation state in the Arctic surface waters was investigated. Reductions in pH and aragonite saturation were calculated from the outputs of two versions of an earth system model (ESM) with different sea-ice reduction rates under similar CO2 emission scenarios. The newer model version projects that Arctic summer ice-free condition will be achieved by the year 2040, and the older version predicts ice-free condition by 2090. The Arctic surface water was projected to be undersaturated with respect to aragonite in the annual mean when atmospheric CO2 concentration reached 480 (550) ppm in year 2040 (2048) in new (old) version. At an atmospheric CO2 concentration of 520 ppm, the maximum differences in pH and aragonite saturation state between the two versions were 0.08 and 0.15, respectively. The analysis showed that the decreases in pH and aragonite saturation state due to rapid sea-ice reduction were caused by increases in both CO2 uptake and freshwater input. Thus, the reductions in pH and aragonite saturation state in the Arctic surface waters are significantly affected by the difference in future projections for sea-ice reduction rate. The critical CO2 concentration, at which the Arctic surface waters become undersaturated with respect to aragonite on annual mean bias, would be lower by 70 ppm in the version with the rapid sea-ice reduction.

scholarly journals Export of calcium carbonate corrosive waters from the East Siberian Sea

2017 ◽  
Vol 14 (7) ◽  
pp. 1811-1823 ◽  
Author(s):  
Leif G. Anderson ◽  
Jörgen Ek ◽  
Ylva Ericson ◽  
Christoph Humborg ◽  
Igor Semiletov ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Calcium Carbonate ◽  
Sea Ice ◽  
North Atlantic Ocean ◽  
The Arctic ◽  
High Pco2 ◽  
Low Oxygen ◽  
Saturation State ◽  
Ice Melt ◽  
The North ◽  
Transformation Of Organic Matter

Abstract. The Siberian shelf seas are areas of extensive biogeochemical transformation of organic matter, both of marine and terrestrial origin. This in combination with brine production from sea ice formation results in a cold bottom water of relative high salinity and partial pressure of carbon dioxide (pCO2). Data from the SWERUS-C3 expedition compiled on the icebreaker Oden in July to September 2014 show the distribution of such waters at the outer shelf, as well as their export into the deep central Arctic basins. Very high pCO2 water, up to ∼ 1000 µatm, was observed associated with high nutrients and low oxygen concentrations. Consequently, this water had low saturation state with respect to calcium carbonate down to less than 0.8 for calcite and 0.5 for aragonite. Waters undersaturated in aragonite were also observed in the surface in waters at equilibrium with atmospheric CO2; however, at these conditions the cause of under-saturation was low salinity from river runoff and/or sea ice melt. The calcium carbonate corrosive water was observed all along the continental margin and well out into the deep Makarov and Canada basins at a depth from about 50 m depth in the west to about 150 m in the east. These waters of low aragonite saturation state are traced in historic data to the Canada Basin and in the waters flowing out of the Arctic Ocean north of Greenland and in the western Fram Strait, thus potentially impacting the marine life in the North Atlantic Ocean.

scholarly journals Calcium carbonate saturation in the surface water of the Arctic Ocean: undersaturation in freshwater influenced shelves

2009 ◽  
Vol 6 (11) ◽  
pp. 2421-2431 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Chierici ◽  
A. Fransson
Keyword(s):  
Calcium Carbonate ◽  
Surface Water ◽  
Cold Water ◽  
Dissolved Inorganic Carbon ◽  
Chukchi Sea ◽  
Total Alkalinity ◽  
The Arctic ◽  
Subsurface Water ◽  
Chukchi Peninsula ◽  
Bering Strait

Abstract. In the summer of 2005, we sampled surface water and measured pH and total alkalinity (AT) underway aboard IB Oden along the Northwest Passage from Cape Farewell (South Greenland) to the Chukchi Sea. We investigated the variability of carbonate system parameters, focusing particularly on carbonate concentration [CO32−] and calcium carbonate saturation states, as related to freshwater addition, biological processes and physical upwelling. Measurements on AT, pH at 15°C, salinity (S) and sea surface temperature (SST), were used to calculate total dissolved inorganic carbon (CT), [CO32−] and the saturation of aragonite (ΩAr) and calcite (ΩCa) in the surface water. The same parameters were measured in the water column of the Bering Strait. Some surface waters in the Canadian Arctic Archipelago (CAA) and on the Mackenzie shelf (MS) were found to be undersaturated with respect to aragonite (ΩAr<1). In these areas, surface water was low in AT and CT (<1500 μmol kg−1) relative to seawater and showed low [CO32−]. The low saturation states were probably due to the likely the effect of dilution due to freshwater addition by sea ice melt (CAA) and river runoff (MS). High AT and CT and low pH, corresponded with the lowest [CO32−], ΩAr and ΩCa, observed near Cape Bathurst and along the South Chukchi Peninsula. This was linked to the physical upwelling of subsurface water with elevated CO2. The highest surface ΩAr and ΩCa of 3.0 and 4.5, respectively, were found on the Chukchi Sea shelf and in the cold water north of Wrangel Island, which is heavily influenced by high CO2 drawdown and lower CT from intense biological production. In the western Bering Strait, the cold and saline Anadyr Current carries water that is enriched in AT and CT from enhanced organic matter remineralization, resulting in the lowest ΩAr (~1.2) of the area.

scholarly journals Inorganic carbon fluxes on the Mackenzie Shelf of the Beaufort Sea

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jacoba Mol ◽  
Helmuth Thomas ◽  
Paul G. Myers ◽  
Xianmin Hu ◽  
Alfonso Mucci
Keyword(s):  
Sea Ice ◽  
Inorganic Carbon ◽  
Dissolved Inorganic Carbon ◽  
Beaufort Sea ◽  
Total Alkalinity ◽  
The Arctic ◽  
Surface Mixed Layer ◽  
Saturation State ◽  
Carbon Transfer ◽  
Mackenzie Shelf

Abstract. The Mackenzie Shelf in the southeastern Beaufort Sea is a region that has experienced large changes in the past several decades as warming, sea-ice loss, and increased river discharge have altered carbon cycling. Upwelling and downwelling events are common on the shelf, caused by strong, fluctuating along-shore winds, resulting in cross-shelf Ekman transport, and an alternating estuarine and anti-estuarine circulation. Downwelling carries inorganic carbon and other remineralization products off the shelf and into the deep basin for possible long-term storage in the world oceans. Upwelling carries dissolved inorganic carbon (DIC) and nutrient-rich waters from the Pacific-origin upper halocline layer (UHL) onto the shelf. Profiles of DIC and total alkalinity (TA) taken in August and September of 2014 are used to investigate the cycling of inorganic carbon on the Mackenzie Shelf. The along-shore transport of water and the cross-shelf transport of inorganic carbon are quantified using velocity field output from a simulation of the Arctic and Northern Hemisphere Atlantic (ANHA4) configuration of the Nucleus of European Modelling of the Ocean (NEMO) framework. A strong upwelling event prior to sampling on the Mackenzie Shelf is analyzed and the resulting influence on the carbonate system, including the saturation state of waters with respect to aragonite and pH, is investigated. TA and the oxygen isotope ratio of water (δ18O) are used to examine water-mass distributions in the study area and to investigate the influence of Pacific Water, Mackenzie River freshwater, and sea-ice melt on carbon dynamics and air-sea fluxes of carbon dioxide (CO2) in the surface mixed layer. Understanding carbon transfer in this seasonally dynamic environment is key to quantify the importance of Arctic shelf regions to the global carbon cycle and provide a basis for understanding how it will respond to the aforementioned climate-induced changes.

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