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Title

Seasonal variation in aragonite saturation in surface waters of Puget Sound – a pilot study. Article published in Elementa Science of the Anthropocene 2018;6(1):5.

 
Publication number Date Published
18-03-003January 2018
VIEW NOW Seasonal variation in aragonite saturation in surface waters of Puget Sound – a pilot study. Article published in Elementa Science of the Anthropocene 2018;6(1):5. (Number of pages: 13) (Publication Size: 1029KB)




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Author(s) Pelletier G., Roberts M., Keyzers M., and Alin SR.
Description A pilot study of sampling, using monthly marine flights over spatially distributed stations, was conducted with the aim to characterize the carbonate system in Puget Sound over a full year-long period. Surface waters of Puget Sound were found to be under-saturated with respect to aragonite during Oct–Mar, and super-saturated during Apr–Sept. Highest pCO2 and lowest pH occurred during the corrosive Oct–Mar period. Lowest pCO2 and highest pH occurred during the super-saturated Apr–Sept period. The monthly variations in pCO2, pH, and aragonite saturation state closely followed the variations in monthly average chlorophyll a. Super-saturated conditions during Apr–Sept are likely strongly influenced by photosynthetic uptake of CO2 during the phytoplankton growing season. The relationship between phytoplankton production, the carbonate system, and aragonite saturation state suggests that long-term trends in eutrophication processes may contribute to trends in ocean acidification in Puget Sound.
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Contact Pelletier, G. at 360-407-6485 or gpel461@ecy.wa.gov
Keywords ocean acidification, Puget Sound, carbonate system
WEB PAGE Salish Sea Model
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