Alkalinity distribution in the western North Atlantic Ocean margins

dc.contributor.authorCai, Wei-Jun
dc.contributor.authorHu, Xinping
dc.contributor.authorHuang, Wei-Jen
dc.contributor.authorJiang, Li-Qing
dc.contributor.authorWang, Yongchen
dc.contributor.authorPeng, Tsung-Hung
dc.contributor.authorZhang, Xin
dc.date.accessioned2023-03-23T19:22:19Z
dc.date.available2023-03-23T19:22:19Z
dc.date.issued2010-08-13
dc.description.abstractTotal alkalinity (TA) distribution and its relationship with salinity (S) along the western North Atlantic Ocean (wNAO) margins from the Labrador Sea to tropical areas are examined by this study. Based on the observed TA-S patterns, the mixing process that control alkalinity distribution in these areas can be categorized into a spectrum of patterns that are bracketed by two extreme mixing types, i.e., alongshore current dominated and river-dominated. Alongshore current-dominated mixing processes exhibit a segmented mixing line with a shared mid-salinity end-member. In such cases (i.e., Labrador Sea, Gulf of Maine, etc.), the y-intercept of the high salinity segment of the mixing line is generally higher than the local river alkalinity values, and it reflects the mixing history of the alongshore current. In contrast, in river-dominated mixing (Amazon River, Caribbean Sea, etc.), good linear relationships between alkalinity and salinity are generally observed, and the zero salinity intercepts of the TA-S regressions roughly match those of the regional river alkalinity values. TA-S mixing lines can be complicated by rapid changes in the river end-member value and by another river nearby with a different TA value (e.g., Mississippi-Atchafalaya/Gulf of Mexico). In the wNAO margins, regression intercepts and river end-member vale have a clear latitudinal distribution pattern, increasing from a low of ~300 mol kg-1 in the Amazon River plume to a high value between ~500-1100 mol kg-1 in the middle and high latitude margins. The highest value of ~2400 mol kg-1 is observed in the Mississippi River influenced areas. In addition to mixing control, biological processes such a calcification and benthic alkalinity production may also affect ocean margin alkalinity distribution. Therefore, deriving inorganic carbon system information in coastal oceans using alkalinity-salinity relationships, in particular, those of generic nature, may lead to significant errors.en_US
dc.identifier.citationJournal of Geophysical Researchen_US
dc.identifier.urihttps://hdl.handle.net/1969.6/95730
dc.language.isoen_USen_US
dc.titleAlkalinity distribution in the western North Atlantic Ocean marginsen_US
dc.typeArticleen_US

Files

Original bundle

Now showing 1 - 1 of 1
Loading...
Thumbnail Image
Name:
Journal of Geophysical Research Oceans - 2010 - Cai - Alkalinity distribution in the western North Atlantic Ocean margins (1).pdf
Size:
1.06 MB
Format:
Adobe Portable Document Format
Description:

License bundle

Now showing 1 - 1 of 1
No Thumbnail Available
Name:
license.txt
Size:
1.72 KB
Format:
Item-specific license agreed upon to submission
Description:

Collections