Open AccessCarbon dynamics in sea ice: A winter flux time series
Author(s) -
Miller Lisa A.,
Papakyriakou Timothy N.,
Collins R. Eric,
Deming Jody W.,
Ehn Jens K.,
Macdonald Robie W.,
Mucci Alfonso,
Owens Owen,
Raudsepp Mati,
Sutherland Nes
Publication year - 2011
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 - 10.1029/2009jc006058
Subject(s) - sea ice , melt pond , sea ice thickness , antarctic sea ice , oceanography , arctic ice pack , geology , drift ice , fast ice , environmental science , atmospheric sciences , climatology
A winter time series of the inorganic carbon system above, within, and beneath the landfast sea ice of the southern Beaufort Sea confirmed that sea ice is an active participant in the carbon cycle of polar waters. Eddy covariance measurements above the ice identified significant vertical CO 2 fluxes, mostly upward away from the ice but with short periods of downward fluxes as well. A novel, in situ method revealed extremely high p CO 2 values within the ice that are not inconsistent with theory. The total carbon content of the ice increased slightly through the winter season, and increasing variability in the vertical profiles as spring began indicated that the inorganic carbon became mobile as the ice began to melt. During early winter, as the ice formed, inorganic carbon concentrations in the surface waters increased dramatically, along with salinity, partly because of rejection from the ice and partly from advective mixing. Brine drainage was apparently not sufficient to initiate convection, and the excess carbon remained in the surface waters into the summer.