Inventario del carbono antropogénico en el golfo de Cádiz

Título: Anthropogenic carbon inventory in the Gulf of Cadiz

Resumen :

The North Atlantic is the most important sink for atmospheric CO(2) although there still remain uncertainties about the total amount stored by this region and the contribution of the anthropogenic CO(2) (C(ANT)) that is exchanged between the Mediterranean Sea and the Atlantic Ocean. During the P(3)A(2) cruise performed in October 2008 throughout the oceanic area covered by the Gulf of Cadiz and the Strait of Gibraltar, which channelizes the water exchange between the Atlantic and the Mediterranean, extensive measurements of the carbon system parameters (pH, total alkalinity and total inorganic carbon) and others related (dissolved oxygen and nutrients) were carried out to analyze their distribution in the area. In order to study the CANT spatial variability, three observational methods for C(ANT) concentration assessment (phi C(T)degrees, Delta C* and TrOCA) were applied. The three water masses identified in the area, North Atlantic Central Water (NACW), North Atlantic Deep Water (NADW) and Mediterranean Outflow Water (MOW), were shown to contain different C(ANT) concentration. NADW exhibited the lowest C(ANT) levels whereas NACW was the most C(ANT) enriched. Data also indicate a net import of C(ANT) from the Atlantic towards the Mediterranean through Gibraltar. Specific C(ANT) inventories showed that MOW contributes in 8-12% to the total specific C(ANT) inventory of tie Gulf of Cadiz.

Autores : Flecha, S.; Perez, F.F.; Navarro, G.; Ruiz, J.; Olive, I.; Rodriguez-Galvez, S.; Costas, E.; Huertas, I.E.

Direcciones :

1. Instituto Ciencias Marinas Andalucía CSIC (España)

2. Instituto Investigaciones Marinas CSIC (España)

3. Universidad de Cádiz, departamento de Biología (España)

4. Universidad Complutense Madrid, facultad de Veterinaria (España)