Seasonal and short-term variations in atmospheric potential oxygen at Ny-Ålesund, Svalbard
Oxygen in the atmosphere undergoes variations and changes in response to biospheric activities, ocean–atmosphere exchange and fossil fuel combustion. Continuous in situ measurements of atmospheric δ(O2/N2) and CO2 mole fraction were started at Ny-Ålesund, Svalbard (78.93°N, 11.83°E, 40 m a.s.l.) in...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Stockholm University Press
2017-01-01
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| Series: | Tellus: Series B, Chemical and Physical Meteorology |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/16000889.2017.1311767 |
| _version_ | 1828489613516210176 |
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| author | Daisuke Goto Shinji Morimoto Shuji Aoki Prabir K. Patra Takakiyo Nakazawa |
| author_facet | Daisuke Goto Shinji Morimoto Shuji Aoki Prabir K. Patra Takakiyo Nakazawa |
| author_sort | Daisuke Goto |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Oxygen in the atmosphere undergoes variations and changes in response to biospheric activities, ocean–atmosphere exchange and fossil fuel combustion. Continuous in situ measurements of atmospheric δ(O2/N2) and CO2 mole fraction were started at Ny-Ålesund, Svalbard (78.93°N, 11.83°E, 40 m a.s.l.) in November 2012. Atmospheric potential oxygen (APO) calculated from the measured O2 and CO2 values during November 2012–January 2015 show a clear seasonal cycle with a peak-to-peak amplitude of approximately 50 per meg. The seasonal cycle of APO simulated using an atmospheric transport model, with prescribed oceanic O2, N2 and CO2 fluxes at monthly time intervals, is in excellent agreement with the observed APO. However, in spring and early summer, high values of APO are observed irregularly on a timescale of hours to days. By comparing backward trajectories of air parcels released from the site with distributions of marine net primary production (NPP), and tagged tracer experiments made using the atmospheric transport model for APO, it is found that these high APO fluctuations are primarily attributable to O2 emissions from the Greenland Sea, the Norwegian Sea and the Barents Sea, due to marine biological productivity. Marine net community production, estimated based on the sea-to-air O2 flux derived from observed APO fluctuations, agrees with NPP obtained from satellite observations within an order of magnitude. The results obtained in this study have still some uncertainties, but our continuous observations of atmospheric δ(O2/N2) and CO2 mole fraction at Ny-Ålesund can play an important role in detecting possible changes in the carbon cycle in the near future. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-11T10:29:03Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-04678b2cced64eb5bdaa807ddfae9ac2 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1600-0889 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-11T10:29:03Z |
| publishDate | 2017-01-01 |
| publisher | Stockholm University Press |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Tellus: Series B, Chemical and Physical Meteorology |
| spelling | doaj.art-04678b2cced64eb5bdaa807ddfae9ac22022-12-22T01:11:01ZengStockholm University PressTellus: Series B, Chemical and Physical Meteorology1600-08892017-01-0169110.1080/16000889.2017.13117671311767Seasonal and short-term variations in atmospheric potential oxygen at Ny-Ålesund, SvalbardDaisuke Goto0Shinji Morimoto1Shuji Aoki2Prabir K. Patra3Takakiyo Nakazawa4National Institute of Polar Research, Research Organization of Information and Systems/SOKENDAI (The Graduate University for Advanced Studies)Center for Atmospheric and Oceanic Studies, Graduate School of Science, Tohoku UniversityCenter for Atmospheric and Oceanic Studies, Graduate School of Science, Tohoku UniversityJapan Agency for Marine-Earth Science and Technology (JAMSTEC)Center for Atmospheric and Oceanic Studies, Graduate School of Science, Tohoku UniversityOxygen in the atmosphere undergoes variations and changes in response to biospheric activities, ocean–atmosphere exchange and fossil fuel combustion. Continuous in situ measurements of atmospheric δ(O2/N2) and CO2 mole fraction were started at Ny-Ålesund, Svalbard (78.93°N, 11.83°E, 40 m a.s.l.) in November 2012. Atmospheric potential oxygen (APO) calculated from the measured O2 and CO2 values during November 2012–January 2015 show a clear seasonal cycle with a peak-to-peak amplitude of approximately 50 per meg. The seasonal cycle of APO simulated using an atmospheric transport model, with prescribed oceanic O2, N2 and CO2 fluxes at monthly time intervals, is in excellent agreement with the observed APO. However, in spring and early summer, high values of APO are observed irregularly on a timescale of hours to days. By comparing backward trajectories of air parcels released from the site with distributions of marine net primary production (NPP), and tagged tracer experiments made using the atmospheric transport model for APO, it is found that these high APO fluctuations are primarily attributable to O2 emissions from the Greenland Sea, the Norwegian Sea and the Barents Sea, due to marine biological productivity. Marine net community production, estimated based on the sea-to-air O2 flux derived from observed APO fluctuations, agrees with NPP obtained from satellite observations within an order of magnitude. The results obtained in this study have still some uncertainties, but our continuous observations of atmospheric δ(O2/N2) and CO2 mole fraction at Ny-Ålesund can play an important role in detecting possible changes in the carbon cycle in the near future.http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/16000889.2017.1311767atmospheric potential oxygen (APO)net community productionatmospheric transport modelair–sea O2 exchangeNy-Ålesund |
| spellingShingle | Daisuke Goto Shinji Morimoto Shuji Aoki Prabir K. Patra Takakiyo Nakazawa Seasonal and short-term variations in atmospheric potential oxygen at Ny-Ålesund, Svalbard Tellus: Series B, Chemical and Physical Meteorology atmospheric potential oxygen (APO) net community production atmospheric transport model air–sea O2 exchange Ny-Ålesund |
| title | Seasonal and short-term variations in atmospheric potential oxygen at Ny-Ålesund, Svalbard |
| title_full | Seasonal and short-term variations in atmospheric potential oxygen at Ny-Ålesund, Svalbard |
| title_fullStr | Seasonal and short-term variations in atmospheric potential oxygen at Ny-Ålesund, Svalbard |
| title_full_unstemmed | Seasonal and short-term variations in atmospheric potential oxygen at Ny-Ålesund, Svalbard |
| title_short | Seasonal and short-term variations in atmospheric potential oxygen at Ny-Ålesund, Svalbard |
| title_sort | seasonal and short term variations in atmospheric potential oxygen at ny alesund svalbard |
| topic | atmospheric potential oxygen (APO) net community production atmospheric transport model air–sea O2 exchange Ny-Ålesund |
| url | http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/16000889.2017.1311767 |
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