Ocean Acidification along the Gulf Coast and East Coast of the USA

Rik Wanninkhof, Leticia Barbero, Robert Byrne, Wei-Jun Cai, Wei-Jen Huang, Jia-Zhong Zhang, Molly Baringer, Chris Langdon

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

<p> <p id="x-x-sp0100"> As part of an effort to monitor changes in inorganic carbon chemistry of the coastal ocean, near-synoptic cruises are being conducted in the Northern Gulf of Mexico and along the East Coast of the United States. Here we describe observations obtained on a cruise in the summer of 2012 and compare them with results from a cruise following a similar track in 2007. The focus is on describing spatial patterns of aragonite saturation state ( <em> &Omega; </em> <sub> Ar </sub> ). This parameter is an indicator of ecosystem health, in particular for calcifying organisms. The results show large-scale regional trends from different source waters at the northeastern and southwestern edges of the domain, along with the modulating effects of remineralization/respiration and riverine inputs. The broader patterns and changes over five years along the coast can be well described by the impacts of large-scale circulation, notably changes in source water contributions. Changes in the well-buffered Loop Current and Gulf Stream with high <em> &Omega; </em> <sub> Ar </sub> impact the waters in the southern part of the study area. The less buffered southward coastal currents with low <em> &Omega; </em> <sub> Ar </sub> originating from the Labrador Sea and Gulf of St. Lawrence impact the <em> &Omega; </em> <sub> Ar </sub> patterns in the Northern regions. The expected 2% average decrease in <em> &Omega; </em> <sub> Ar </sub> in the surface mixed layer due to increasing atmospheric CO <sub> 2 </sub> levels over the 5-year period is largely overshadowed by local and regional variability from changes in hydrography and mixed layer dynamics. </p></p>
Original languageAmerican English
JournalContinental Shelf Research
Volume98
DOIs
StatePublished - Jan 1 2015

Keywords

  • Ocean acidification
  • Inorganic carbon system
  • Coastal ocean
  • Northern Gulf of Mexico
  • East Coast

Disciplines

  • Life Sciences

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