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Simulated Impact of Glacial Runoff on CO 2 Uptake in the Gulf of Alaska
Author(s) -
Pilcher Darren J.,
Siedlecki Samantha A.,
Hermann Albert J.,
Coyle Kenneth O.,
Mathis Jeremy T.,
Evans Wiley
Publication year - 2018
Publication title -
geophysical research letters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.007
H-Index - 273
eISSN - 1944-8007
pISSN - 0094-8276
DOI - 10.1002/2017gl075910
Subject(s) - alkalinity , glacial period , tidewater , surface runoff , meltwater , environmental science , biogeochemical cycle , sink (geography) , climate change , hydrology (agriculture) , oceanography , carbon cycle , ecosystem , geology , glacier , ecology , geography , geomorphology , chemistry , cartography , geotechnical engineering , organic chemistry , biology
The Gulf of Alaska (GOA) receives substantial summer freshwater runoff from glacial meltwater. The alkalinity of this runoff is highly dependent on the glacial source and can modify the coastal carbon cycle. We use a regional ocean biogeochemical model to simulate CO 2 uptake in the GOA under different alkalinity‐loading scenarios. The GOA is identified as a current net sink of carbon, though low‐alkalinity tidewater glacial runoff suppresses summer coastal carbon uptake. Our model shows that increasing the alkalinity generates an increase in annual CO 2 uptake of 1.9–2.7 TgC/yr. This transition is comparable to a projected change in glacial runoff composition (i.e., from tidewater to land‐terminating) due to continued climate warming. Our results demonstrate an important local carbon‐climate feedback that can significantly increase coastal carbon uptake via enhanced air‐sea exchange, with potential implications to the coastal ecosystems in glaciated areas around the world.