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Coastal Southern Ocean: A strong anthropogenic CO 2 sink
Author(s) -
Arrigo Kevin R.,
van Dijken Gert,
Long Matthew
Publication year - 2008
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 - 10.1029/2008gl035624
Subject(s) - sink (geography) , biogeochemical cycle , carbon sink , oceanography , continental shelf , environmental science , geology , climate change , ecology , geography , cartography , biology
Large‐scale estimates of the Southern Ocean CO 2 sink do not adequately resolve the fluxes associated with Antarctic continental shelves. Using a mechanistic three‐dimensional biogeochemical model of the Ross Sea, we show that Antarctic shelf waters are a strong sink for CO 2 due to high biological productivity, intense winds, high ventilation rates, and extensive winter sea ice cover. Net primary production (NPP) in these waters is ∼0.055 Pg C yr −1 . Some of this carbon sinks to depth, driving an influx of CO 2 of 20–50 g C m −2 yr −1 . Although currently unaccounted for, the total atmospheric CO 2 sink on the Ross Sea continental shelf of 0.013 Pg C yr −1 is equivalent to 27% of the most recent estimate of the CO 2 sink for the entire Southern Ocean. Given these results, these and other highly productive waters around the Antarctic continent need to be included in future budgets of anthropogenic CO 2 .