Changes in the Arctic Ocean Carbon Cycle With Diminishing Ice Cover
Abstract
Less than three decades ago only a small fraction of the Arctic Ocean (AO) was ice free and then only for short periods. The ice cover kept sea surface pCO2 at levels lower relative to other ocean basins that have been exposed year round to ever increasing atmospheric levels. In this study, we evaluate sea surface pCO2 measurements collected over a 6‐year period along a fixed cruise track in the Canada Basin. The measurements show that mean pCO2 levels are significantly higher during low ice years. The pCO2 increase is likely driven by ocean surface heating and uptake of atmospheric CO2 with large interannual variability in the contributions of these processes. These findings suggest that increased ice‐free periods will further increase sea surface pCO2, reducing the Canada Basin's current role as a net sink of atmospheric CO2.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Pub Defense Publication
- Publication Date
- Jun 13, 2020
- Source ID
- 10.1029/2020gl088051
Entities
People
- Bill Williams
- Mary-Louise Timmermans
- Michael DeGrandpre
- Michael Steele
- Richard Krishfield
- Wiley Evans
Organizations
- Hakai Institute
- Institute of Ocean Sciences
- National Aeronautics and Space Administration
- National Science Foundation
- National Stroke Foundation
- Office of Naval Research
- University of Montana
- University of Washington
- Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution
- Yale University