Publication Date:
2022-01-13
Description:
The waters along the West Antarctic Peninsula (WAP) have experienced warming and increased
freshwater inputs from melting sea ice and glaciers in recent decades. Challenges exist in understanding
the consequences of these changes on the inorganic carbon system in this ecologically important and
highly productive ecosystem. Distributions of dissolved inorganic carbon (CT), total alkalinity (AT)
and nutrients revealed key physical, biological and biogeochemical controls of the calcium carbonate
saturation state (Ωaragonite) in different water masses across the WAP shelf during the summer.
Biological production in spring and summer dominated changes in surface water Ωaragonite (ΔΩaragonite
up to +1.39; ∼90%) relative to underlying Winter Water. Sea-ice and glacial meltwater constituted a
minor source of AT that increased surface water Ωaragonite (ΔΩaragonite up to +0.07; ∼13%).
Remineralization of organic matter and an influx of carbon-rich brines led to cross-shelf decreases in
Ωaragonite in Winter Water and Circumpolar Deep Water. A strong biological carbon pump over the
shelf created Ωaragonite oversaturation in surface waters and suppression of Ωaragonite in subsurface
waters. Undersaturation of aragonite occurred at 〈 ∼1000 m. Ongoing changes along the WAP will
impact the biologically driven and meltwater-driven processes that influence the vulnerability of shelf
waters to calcium carbonate undersaturation in the future.
Repository Name:
EPIC Alfred Wegener Institut
Type:
Article
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isiRev
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info:eu-repo/semantics/article
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