Open AccessBubbles: An estimate of their role in the global oceanic flux of carbon
Author(s) -
Monahan Edward C.,
Dam Hans G.
Publication year - 2001
Publication title -
journal of geophysical research: oceans
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.67
H-Index - 298
eISSN - 2156-2202
pISSN - 0148-0227
DOI - 10.1029/2000jc000295
Subject(s) - scavenging , dissolved organic carbon , bubble , flux (metallurgy) , atmosphere (unit) , carbon fibers , seawater , total organic carbon , biological pump , water column , carbon cycle , atmospheric sciences , carbon dioxide , environmental science , oceanography , deep sea , particulate organic carbon , geology , environmental chemistry , chemistry , meteorology , materials science , nutrient , mechanics , ecology , phytoplankton , ecosystem , composite number , composite material , biology , biochemistry , physics , organic chemistry , antioxidant
The amount of particulate organic carbon (POC) formed annually via the scavenging of dissolved organic carbon (DOC) by bubbles is calculated to be 1.9 Gt C yr −1 . In arriving at this estimate use was made of (1) published descriptions of the bubble spectrum associated with the alpha plumes beneath spilling wave crests, (2) the published relationship of stage A whitecap coverage to wind speed, (3) data on the scale depth of alpha plumes and on the rise velocity of bubbles coated with organic film, (4) published bubble scavenging efficiencies, and (5) recorded concentrations of DOC in oceanic surface waters. This rate of DOC scavenging by bubbles represents a 1.7% yr −1 turnover of the global oceanic DOC pool, and each year produces an amount of POC equal to 17% of the POC pool in the uppermost 300 m of the ocean. Bubble scavenging turns over the DOC present in the shallow layer of bubble influence once every 67 days. Moreover, within the depth of influence of large bubbles (uppermost 1.4 m of the water column), bubble scavenging represents an annual threefold turnover of the DOC pool and a POC production equivalent to thirtyfold of the POC pool. It is noted that the amount of DOC transformed into POC each year via bubble scavenging is equal to the amount of carbon present in the carbon dioxide estimated to be absorbed by the ocean each year from the atmosphere.