Long-term changes in inorganic carbon in the Elbe estuary

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Louise Rewrie ◽  
Yoana Voynova ◽  
Holger Brix ◽  
Gregor Ollesch ◽  
Burkard Baschek
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Dissolved Oxygen ◽  
River Discharge ◽  
Inorganic Carbon ◽  
Dissolved Inorganic Carbon ◽  
Anthropogenic Impacts ◽  
Elbe Estuary ◽  
Elbe River ◽  
Carbonate System ◽  
Ecosystem State

<p>Overall, estuaries are net CO<sub>2</sub> sources to the atmosphere, releasing an estimated 0.25 Pg C yr<sup>-1</sup>, which could counterbalance the shelf uptake of approximately 0.25 Pg C yr<sup>-1</sup>. River discharge can influence both, the CO<sub>2</sub> flux from estuary to the atmosphere, as well as the magnitude of dissolved inorganic carbon (DIC) exported to coastal waters. In Europe, climate change is expected to cause an increased precipitation in winter and longer periods of drought in summer. The goal of this study is to elucidate the influence of climate-change-induced hydrological changes on an estuarine carbonate system.</p><p>The Elbe River is one largest river basins in central Europe, where over 24 million people live in the catchment area. Since 2014, annual Elbe river discharge has been relatively low at 492.95 m<sup>3 </sup>s<sup>-1</sup>, compared to the mean river discharge from 2008 to 2018 at 652.95 m<sup>3 </sup>s<sup>-1</sup>. 2018 was especially dry, with a discharge of 441 m<sup>3 </sup>s<sup>-1</sup>, the lowest annual mean river discharge since 1992. The Elbe estuary has been extensively sampled by the Flussgebietsgemeinschaft (FGG) Elbe (Elbe River Basin Community), qualifying the region as a suitable site to study the natural and anthropogenic impacts on estuarine systems.</p><p>Preliminary results of the 1985-2018 FGG dataset indicate a major shift in the carbonate system dynamics in the Elbe estuary. From assessing the behaviour of DIC and other ecosystem parameters along the estuary over time, the region can be separated into three ecosystem states. During the time of high pollution, from 1985 to 1990, the estuary exhibited high levels of DIC. Between 1991 and 1996 is the transitional period. After 1997, the ecosystem parameters appear to be exhibiting similar patterns throughout each year with similar levels and therefore this period can be classified as the current ecosystem state. Since 1997, DIC exhibits a drawdown in spring and summer months in the upper region, coinciding with the increase in dissolved oxygen saturation and pH, which can indicate that this region is net autotrophic. Further downstream, DIC then increases along the estuary, and often peaks in the maximum turbidity zone.</p><p>For this study, we apply multiple linear regression to determine the relative importance of ecosystem variables that contribute to annual and monthly DIC variability in the recent ecosystem state. Key ecosystem variables include particulate and dissolved organic carbon, pH, dissolved oxygen and river discharge.</p>

Diel behavior of stable isotopes of dissolved oxygen and dissolved inorganic carbon in rivers over a range of trophic conditions, and in a mesocosm experiment

2010 ◽  
Vol 269 (1-2) ◽  
pp. 22-32 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stephen R. Parker ◽  
Christopher H. Gammons ◽  
Simon R. Poulson ◽  
Michael D. DeGrandpre ◽  
Charmaine L. Weyer ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Stable Isotopes ◽  
Dissolved Oxygen ◽  
Inorganic Carbon ◽  
Dissolved Inorganic Carbon ◽  
Mesocosm Experiment ◽  
Trophic Conditions

Ocean acidification as a multiple driver: how interactions between changing seawater carbonate parameters affect marine life

2020 ◽  
Vol 71 (3) ◽  
pp. 263 ◽  
Author(s):  
Catriona L. Hurd ◽  
John Beardall ◽  
Steeve Comeau ◽  
Christopher E. Cornwall ◽  
Jonathan N Havenhand ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Ocean Acidification ◽  
Inorganic Carbon ◽  
Dissolved Inorganic Carbon ◽  
Multiple Stressors ◽  
Rapid Expansion ◽  
Coralline Algae ◽  
Carbonate System ◽  
Saturation State ◽  
Marine Life ◽  
Key Terms

‘Multiple drivers’ (also termed ‘multiple stressors’) is the term used to describe the cumulative effects of multiple environmental factors on organisms or ecosystems. Here, we consider ocean acidification as a multiple driver because many inorganic carbon parameters are changing simultaneously, including total dissolved inorganic carbon, CO2, HCO3–, CO32–, H+ and CaCO3 saturation state. With the rapid expansion of ocean acidification research has come a greater understanding of the complexity and intricacies of how these simultaneous changes to the seawater carbonate system are affecting marine life. We start by clarifying key terms used by chemists and biologists to describe the changing seawater inorganic carbon system. Then, using key groups of non-calcifying (fish, seaweeds, diatoms) and calcifying (coralline algae, coccolithophores, corals, molluscs) organisms, we consider how various physiological processes are affected by different components of the carbonate system.

scholarly journals Presentation, calibration and validation of the low-order, DCESS Earth System Model (Version 1)

2008 ◽  
Vol 1 (1) ◽  
pp. 17-51 ◽  
Author(s):  
G. Shaffer ◽  
S. Malskær Olsen ◽  
J. O. Pepke Pedersen
Keyword(s):  
Organic Matter ◽  
Organic Carbon ◽  
Dissolved Oxygen ◽  
Inorganic Carbon ◽  
Dissolved Inorganic Carbon ◽  
System Model ◽  
Earth System ◽  
Weathering Rates ◽  
Ocean Sediment ◽  
System Data

Abstract. A new, low-order Earth System Model is described, calibrated and tested against Earth system data. The model features modules for the atmosphere, ocean, ocean sediment, land biosphere and lithosphere and has been designed to simulate global change on time scales of years to millions of years. The atmosphere module considers radiation balance, meridional transport of heat and water vapor between low-mid latitude and high latitude zones, heat and gas exchange with the ocean and sea ice and snow cover. Gases considered are carbon dioxide and methane for all three carbon isotopes, nitrous oxide and oxygen. The ocean module has 100 m vertical resolution, carbonate chemistry and prescribed circulation and mixing. Ocean biogeochemical tracers are phosphate, dissolved oxygen, dissolved inorganic carbon for all three carbon isotopes and alkalinity. Biogenic production of particulate organic matter in the ocean surface layer depends on phosphate availability but with lower efficiency in the high latitude zone, as determined by model fit to ocean data. The calcite to organic carbon rain ratio depends on surface layer temperature. The semi-analytical, ocean sediment module considers calcium carbonate dissolution and oxic and anoxic organic matter remineralisation. The sediment is composed of calcite, non-calcite mineral and reactive organic matter. Sediment porosity profiles are related to sediment composition and a bioturbated layer of 0.1 m thickness is assumed. A sediment segment is ascribed to each ocean layer and segment area stems from observed ocean depth distributions. Sediment burial is calculated from sedimentation velocities at the base of the bioturbated layer. Bioturbation rates and oxic and anoxic remineralisation rates depend on organic carbon rain rates and dissolved oxygen concentrations. The land biosphere module considers leaves, wood, litter and soil. Net primary production depends on atmospheric carbon dioxide concentration and remineralization rates in the litter and soil are related to mean atmospheric temperatures. Methane production is a small fraction of the soil remineralization. The lithosphere module considers outgassing, weathering of carbonate and silicate rocks and weathering of rocks containing old organic carbon and phosphorus. Weathering rates are related to mean atmospheric temperatures. A pre-industrial, steady state calibration to Earth system data is carried out. Ocean observations of temperature, carbon 14, phosphate, dissolved oxygen, dissolved inorganic carbon and alkalinity constrain air-sea exchange and ocean circulation, mixing and biogeochemical parameters. Observed calcite and organic carbon distributions and inventories in the ocean sediment help constrain sediment module parameters. Carbon isotopic data and carbonate vs. silicate weathering fractions are used to estimate initial lithosphere outgassing and rock weathering rates. Model performance is tested by simulating atmospheric greenhouse gas increases, global warming and model tracer evolution for the period 1765 to 2000, as forced by prescribed anthropogenic greenhouse gas inputs and other anthropogenic and natural forcing. Long term, transient model behavior is studied with a set of 100 000 year simulations, forced by a slow, 5000 Gt C input of CO2 to the atmosphere, and with a 1.5 million year simulation, forced by a doubling of lithosphere CO2 outgassing.

scholarly journals Isotope Dilution Mass Spectrometry for Highly Precise Determination of Dissolved Inorganic Carbon in Seawater Aiming at Climate Change Studies

2018 ◽  
Vol 90 (7) ◽  
pp. 4677-4685 ◽  
Author(s):  
Laura Freije-Carrelo ◽  
Laura Alonso Sobrado ◽  
Mariella Moldovan ◽  
Jorge Ruiz Encinar ◽  
J. Ignacio García Alonso
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Mass Spectrometry ◽  
Isotope Dilution ◽  
Inorganic Carbon ◽  
Dissolved Inorganic Carbon ◽  
Isotope Dilution Mass Spectrometry ◽  
Precise Determination

scholarly journals CO<sub>2</sub> perturbation experiments: similarities and differences between dissolved inorganic carbon and total alkalinity manipulations

2009 ◽  
Vol 6 (10) ◽  
pp. 2145-2153 ◽  
Author(s):  
K. G. Schulz ◽  
J. Barcelos e Ramos ◽  
R. E. Zeebe ◽  
U. Riebesell
Keyword(s):  
Ocean Acidification ◽  
Inorganic Carbon ◽  
Dissolved Inorganic Carbon ◽  
Total Alkalinity ◽  
Calcium Carbonate Precipitation ◽  
Carbonate Chemistry ◽  
Carbonate System ◽  
Experimental Conditions ◽  
Saturation State ◽  
Basic Approaches

Abstract. Increasing atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO2) through human activities and invasion of anthropogenic CO2 into the surface ocean alters the seawater carbonate chemistry, increasing CO2 and bicarbonate (HCO3−) at the expense of carbonate ion (CO32−) concentrations. This redistribution in the dissolved inorganic carbon (DIC) pool decreases pH and carbonate saturation state (Ω). Several components of the carbonate system are considered potential key variables influencing for instance calcium carbonate precipitation in marine calcifiers such as coccolithophores, foraminifera, corals, mollusks and echinoderms. Unravelling the sensitivities of marine organisms and ecosystems to CO2 induced ocean acidification (OA) requires well-controlled experimental setups and accurate carbonate system manipulations. Here we describe and analyse the chemical changes involved in the two basic approaches for carbonate chemistry manipulation, i.e. changing DIC at constant total alkalinity (TA) and changing TA at constant DIC. Furthermore, we briefly introduce several methods to experimentally manipulate DIC and TA. Finally, we examine responses obtained with both approaches using published results for the coccolithophore Emiliania huxleyi. We conclude that under most experimental conditions in the context of ocean acidification DIC and TA manipulations yield similar changes in all parameters of the carbonate system, which implies direct comparability of data obtained with the two basic approaches for CO2 perturbation.

scholarly journals Winter measurements of biogeochemical parameters in the Rockall Trough (2009–2012)

2013 ◽  
Vol 6 (2) ◽  
pp. 389-409
Author(s):  
T. McGrath ◽  
C. Kivimäe ◽  
E. McGovern ◽  
R. R. Cave ◽  
E. Joyce
Keyword(s):  
Dissolved Oxygen ◽  
Water Column ◽  
Inorganic Carbon ◽  
Dissolved Inorganic Carbon ◽  
Total Alkalinity ◽  
Dissolved Inorganic Nutrients ◽  
Chemical Signatures ◽  
Rockall Trough ◽  
Biogeochemical Parameters ◽  
Oxidised Nitrogen

Abstract. This paper describes the sampling and analysis of biogeochemical parameters collected in the Rockall Trough in January/February of 2009, 2010, 2011 and 2012. Sampling was carried out across two transects, one southern and one northern transect each year. Samples for dissolved inorganic carbon (DIC) and total alkalinity (TA) were taken alongside salinity, dissolved oxygen and dissolved inorganic nutrients (total-oxidised nitrogen, nitrite, phosphate and silicate) to describe the chemical signatures of the various water masses in the region. These were taken at regular intervals through the water column. The 2009 and 2010 data are available on the CDIAC database.

Predicting the Effect of Macrobenthos on the Sediment/Water Flux of Metals and Phosphorus

1985 ◽  
Vol 42 (1) ◽  
pp. 95-100 ◽  
Author(s):  
William M. Starkel
Keyword(s):  
Dissolved Oxygen ◽  
Inorganic Carbon ◽  
Dissolved Inorganic Carbon ◽  
Water Flux ◽  
Apparent Effect ◽  
Chironomid Larvae ◽  
Iron Manganese

The log-transformed flux rates of iron, manganese, and phosphorus in a small, softwater lake were linearly related to the biomass of Chaoborus and chironomid larvae. Flux rates were measured by measuring the change in chemical concentrations in the water overlying the sediment of undisturbed cores incubated in situ for 1–2 d. Predicted flux rates of iron and phosphorus at average pelagic densities of animals were enhanced at least twofold over predicted fluxes for diffusion alone. Macroinvertebrates had no apparent effect on flux rates of dissolved oxygen, dissolved inorganic carbon, potassium, or sodium.

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