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Riding over the Kuroshio from the South to the East China Sea: Mixing and transport of DIC
Author(s) -
Sheu David D.,
Chou WenChen,
Chen C. T. Arthur,
Wei ChingLing,
Hsieh HsiuLing,
Hou WeiPing,
Dai Minhan
Publication year - 2009
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 - 10.1029/2008gl037017
Subject(s) - upwelling , outflow , oceanography , seawater , sink (geography) , dissolved organic carbon , china sea , total inorganic carbon , geology , nutrient , environmental science , current (fluid) , carbon dioxide , chemistry , geography , cartography , organic chemistry
Export of dissolved inorganic carbon (DIC) to adjoining oceans enhances the potential of CO 2 sequestration in marginal seas. By using a series of measured DIC depth profiles and reported flow transports, we estimated that the intermediate outflow (100–600 m) from the South China Sea is capable of transporting 6.5 ± 4.1 Tg (1 Tg = 10 12 g) of biologically mediated carbon (DIC bio ) annually to the East China Sea (ECS) via the northwardly flowing Kuroshio current. The mixing and transport of these DIC‐rich waters would raise 3% and 16% of DIC/TA ratio and the Revelle factor of the adjoining seawaters, respectively. Upon upwelling onto the ECS shelf, these DIC‐rich waters would counteract the potential of CO 2 uptake of shelf waters that might have been enhanced by the accompanying increase in nutrient inputs, thus complicating assessment of the ECS as a net CO 2 source or sink.