Changes in the marine carbonate system of the western Arctic: patterns in a rescued data set

Abstract

A recently recovered and compiled set of inorganic carbon data collected in the Canadian Arctic since the 1970s has revealed substantial change, as well as variability, in the carbonate system of the Beaufort Sea and Canada Basin. Whereas the role of this area as a net atmospheric carbon sink has been confirmed, high pCO₂ values in the upper halocline underscore the potential for CO₂ outgassing as sea ice retreats and upwelling increases. In addition, increasing total inorganic carbon and decreasing alkalinity are increasing pCO₂ and decreasing CaCO₃ saturation states, such that undersaturation with respect to aragonite now occurs regularly in both deep waters and the upper halocline.

Keywords: Carbonate system; Arctic Ocean; time series; Beaufort Sea; ocean acidification

(Published: 26 November 2014)

Citation: Polar Research 2014, 33, 20577, http://dx.doi.org/10.3402/polar.v33.20577