Marine CO<sub>2</sub> system variability along the northeast Pacific Inside Passage determined from an Alaskan ferry

<p>Information on marine CO<span class="inline-formula"><sub>2</sub></span> system variability has been limited along the northeast Pacific Inside Passage despite the region's rich biodiversity, abundant fisheries, and developing aquaculture industry. Beg...

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Main Authors: W. Evans, G. T. Lebon, C. D. Harrington, Y. Takeshita, A. Bidlack
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Copernicus Publications 2022-03-01
Series:Biogeosciences
Online Access:https://bg.copernicus.org/articles/19/1277/2022/bg-19-1277-2022.pdf
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author W. Evans
G. T. Lebon
G. T. Lebon
C. D. Harrington
Y. Takeshita
A. Bidlack
author_facet W. Evans
G. T. Lebon
G. T. Lebon
C. D. Harrington
Y. Takeshita
A. Bidlack
author_sort W. Evans
collection DOAJ
description <p>Information on marine CO<span class="inline-formula"><sub>2</sub></span> system variability has been limited along the northeast Pacific Inside Passage despite the region's rich biodiversity, abundant fisheries, and developing aquaculture industry. Beginning in 2017, the Alaska Marine Highway System M/V <i>Columbia</i> has served as a platform for surface underway data collection while conducting twice weekly <span class="inline-formula">∼1600</span> km transits between Bellingham, Washington, and Skagway, Alaska. Marine CO<span class="inline-formula"><sub>2</sub></span> system patterns were evaluated using measurements made over a 2-year period, which revealed the seasonal cycle as the dominant mode of temporal variability. The amplitude of this signal varied spatially and was modulated by the relative influences of tidal mixing, net community production, and the magnitude and character of freshwater input. Surface water pH<span class="inline-formula"><sub>T</sub></span> (total hydrogen ion scale) and aragonite saturation state (<span class="inline-formula">Ω<sub>arag</sub></span>) were determined using carbon dioxide partial pressure (<span class="inline-formula"><i>p</i></span>CO<span class="inline-formula"><sub>2</sub></span>) data with alkalinity derived from a regional salinity-based relationship, which was evaluated using intervals of discrete seawater samples and underway pH measurements. High-<span class="inline-formula"><i>p</i></span>CO<span class="inline-formula"><sub>2</sub></span>, low-pH<span class="inline-formula"><sub>T</sub></span>, and corrosive <span class="inline-formula">Ω<sub>arag</sub></span> conditions (<span class="inline-formula">Ω<sub>arag</sub>&lt;1</span>) were seen during winter and within persistent tidal mixing zones, and corrosive <span class="inline-formula">Ω<sub>arag</sub></span> values were also seen in areas that receive significant glacial melt in summer. Biophysical drivers are shown to dominate <span class="inline-formula"><i>p</i></span>CO<span class="inline-formula"><sub>2</sub></span> variability over most of the Inside Passage except in areas highly impacted by glacial melt. pH<span class="inline-formula"><sub>T</sub></span> and <span class="inline-formula">Ω<sub>arag</sub></span> extremes were also characterized based on degrees of variability and severity, and regional differences were evident. Computations of the time of detection identified tidal mixing zones as strategic observing sites with relatively short time spans required to capture secular trends in seawater <span class="inline-formula"><i>p</i></span>CO<span class="inline-formula"><sub>2</sub></span> equivalent to the contemporary rise in atmospheric CO<span class="inline-formula"><sub>2</sub></span>. Finally, estimates of anthropogenic CO<span class="inline-formula"><sub>2</sub></span> showed notable spatiotemporal variability. Changes in total hydrogen ion content ([H<span class="inline-formula"><sup>+</sup></span>]<span class="inline-formula"><sub>T</sub></span>), pH<span class="inline-formula"><sub>T</sub></span>, and <span class="inline-formula">Ω<sub>arag</sub></span> over the industrial era and to an atmospheric <span class="inline-formula"><i>p</i></span>CO<span class="inline-formula"><sub>2</sub></span> level consistent with a 1.5 <span class="inline-formula"><sup>∘</sup></span>C warmer climate were theoretically evaluated. These calculations revealed greater absolute changes in [H<span class="inline-formula"><sup>+</sup></span>]<span class="inline-formula"><sub>T</sub></span> and pH<span class="inline-formula"><sub>T</sub></span> in winter as opposed to larger <span class="inline-formula">Ω<sub>arag</sub></span> change in summer. The contemporary acidification signal everywhere along the Inside Passage exceeded the global average, with specific areas, namely Johnstone Strait and the Salish Sea, standing out as potential bellwethers for the emergence of biological ocean acidification (OA) impacts. Nearly half of the contemporary acidification signal is expected over the coming 15 years, with an atmospheric CO<span class="inline-formula"><sub>2</sub></span> trajectory that continues to be shaped by fossil–fuel development.</p>
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spelling doaj.art-856e85fff023419ab8f0a694abd96ca82022-12-21T16:43:13ZengCopernicus PublicationsBiogeosciences1726-41701726-41892022-03-01191277130110.5194/bg-19-1277-2022Marine CO<sub>2</sub> system variability along the northeast Pacific Inside Passage determined from an Alaskan ferryW. Evans0G. T. Lebon1G. T. Lebon2C. D. Harrington3Y. Takeshita4A. Bidlack5Hakai Institute, Heriot Bay, BC, V0P 1H0, CanadaPacific Marine Environmental Laboratory, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Seattle, 98115, USACooperative Institute for Climate, Ocean, & Ecosystem Studies, University of Washington, 98195, Seattle, Washington, USAAlaska Marine Highway, Department of Transportation, Ketchikan, AK, 99901, USAMonterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute, Moss Landing, 95039, USAAlaska Coastal Rainforest Center, University of Alaska Southeast, Juneau, AK, 99801, USA<p>Information on marine CO<span class="inline-formula"><sub>2</sub></span> system variability has been limited along the northeast Pacific Inside Passage despite the region's rich biodiversity, abundant fisheries, and developing aquaculture industry. Beginning in 2017, the Alaska Marine Highway System M/V <i>Columbia</i> has served as a platform for surface underway data collection while conducting twice weekly <span class="inline-formula">∼1600</span> km transits between Bellingham, Washington, and Skagway, Alaska. Marine CO<span class="inline-formula"><sub>2</sub></span> system patterns were evaluated using measurements made over a 2-year period, which revealed the seasonal cycle as the dominant mode of temporal variability. The amplitude of this signal varied spatially and was modulated by the relative influences of tidal mixing, net community production, and the magnitude and character of freshwater input. Surface water pH<span class="inline-formula"><sub>T</sub></span> (total hydrogen ion scale) and aragonite saturation state (<span class="inline-formula">Ω<sub>arag</sub></span>) were determined using carbon dioxide partial pressure (<span class="inline-formula"><i>p</i></span>CO<span class="inline-formula"><sub>2</sub></span>) data with alkalinity derived from a regional salinity-based relationship, which was evaluated using intervals of discrete seawater samples and underway pH measurements. High-<span class="inline-formula"><i>p</i></span>CO<span class="inline-formula"><sub>2</sub></span>, low-pH<span class="inline-formula"><sub>T</sub></span>, and corrosive <span class="inline-formula">Ω<sub>arag</sub></span> conditions (<span class="inline-formula">Ω<sub>arag</sub>&lt;1</span>) were seen during winter and within persistent tidal mixing zones, and corrosive <span class="inline-formula">Ω<sub>arag</sub></span> values were also seen in areas that receive significant glacial melt in summer. Biophysical drivers are shown to dominate <span class="inline-formula"><i>p</i></span>CO<span class="inline-formula"><sub>2</sub></span> variability over most of the Inside Passage except in areas highly impacted by glacial melt. pH<span class="inline-formula"><sub>T</sub></span> and <span class="inline-formula">Ω<sub>arag</sub></span> extremes were also characterized based on degrees of variability and severity, and regional differences were evident. Computations of the time of detection identified tidal mixing zones as strategic observing sites with relatively short time spans required to capture secular trends in seawater <span class="inline-formula"><i>p</i></span>CO<span class="inline-formula"><sub>2</sub></span> equivalent to the contemporary rise in atmospheric CO<span class="inline-formula"><sub>2</sub></span>. Finally, estimates of anthropogenic CO<span class="inline-formula"><sub>2</sub></span> showed notable spatiotemporal variability. Changes in total hydrogen ion content ([H<span class="inline-formula"><sup>+</sup></span>]<span class="inline-formula"><sub>T</sub></span>), pH<span class="inline-formula"><sub>T</sub></span>, and <span class="inline-formula">Ω<sub>arag</sub></span> over the industrial era and to an atmospheric <span class="inline-formula"><i>p</i></span>CO<span class="inline-formula"><sub>2</sub></span> level consistent with a 1.5 <span class="inline-formula"><sup>∘</sup></span>C warmer climate were theoretically evaluated. These calculations revealed greater absolute changes in [H<span class="inline-formula"><sup>+</sup></span>]<span class="inline-formula"><sub>T</sub></span> and pH<span class="inline-formula"><sub>T</sub></span> in winter as opposed to larger <span class="inline-formula">Ω<sub>arag</sub></span> change in summer. The contemporary acidification signal everywhere along the Inside Passage exceeded the global average, with specific areas, namely Johnstone Strait and the Salish Sea, standing out as potential bellwethers for the emergence of biological ocean acidification (OA) impacts. Nearly half of the contemporary acidification signal is expected over the coming 15 years, with an atmospheric CO<span class="inline-formula"><sub>2</sub></span> trajectory that continues to be shaped by fossil–fuel development.</p>https://bg.copernicus.org/articles/19/1277/2022/bg-19-1277-2022.pdf
spellingShingle W. Evans
G. T. Lebon
G. T. Lebon
C. D. Harrington
Y. Takeshita
A. Bidlack
Marine CO<sub>2</sub> system variability along the northeast Pacific Inside Passage determined from an Alaskan ferry
Biogeosciences
title Marine CO<sub>2</sub> system variability along the northeast Pacific Inside Passage determined from an Alaskan ferry
title_full Marine CO<sub>2</sub> system variability along the northeast Pacific Inside Passage determined from an Alaskan ferry
title_fullStr Marine CO<sub>2</sub> system variability along the northeast Pacific Inside Passage determined from an Alaskan ferry
title_full_unstemmed Marine CO<sub>2</sub> system variability along the northeast Pacific Inside Passage determined from an Alaskan ferry
title_short Marine CO<sub>2</sub> system variability along the northeast Pacific Inside Passage determined from an Alaskan ferry
title_sort marine co sub 2 sub system variability along the northeast pacific inside passage determined from an alaskan ferry
url https://bg.copernicus.org/articles/19/1277/2022/bg-19-1277-2022.pdf
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