CO2 fluxes in the Bransfield strait and surrounding areas of Elephant island during the austral summer 2018

Authors

  • Wilson Carhuapoma Instituto del Mar del Perú, Dirección General de Investigaciones Oceanográficas y Cambio Climático, Callao, Perú. https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8474-9710
  • Michelle Graco Instituto del Mar del Perú, Dirección General de Investigaciones Oceanográficas y Cambio Climático, Callao, Perú. https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6193-3256
  • Luis Vásquez Instituto del Mar del Perú, Dirección General de Investigaciones Oceanográficas y Cambio Climático, Callao, Perú. https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6060-6763
  • Jesús Ledesma Instituto del Mar del Perú, Dirección General de Investigaciones Oceanográficas y Cambio Climático, Callao, Perú. https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4919-7089
  • Dimitri Gutiérrez Instituto del Mar del Perú, Dirección General de Investigaciones Oceanográficas y Cambio Climático, Callao, Perú. https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5443-6924
  • Pedro Tapia Instituto Nacional de Investigación en Glaciares y Ecosistemas de Montaña, Huaraz, Perú. https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0708-4468
  • Katy Medina Facultad de Ciencias del Ambiente, Universidad Nacional Santiago Antúnez de Mayolo, Huaraz, Perú. https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2910-6808
  • Edwin Loarte Facultad de Ciencias del Ambiente, Universidad Nacional Santiago Antúnez de Mayolo, Huaraz, Perú. https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3123-1904
  • Hairo León Facultad de Ciencias del Ambiente, Universidad Nacional Santiago Antúnez de Mayolo, Huaraz, Perú. https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2283-7584

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.53554/boletin.v39i2.410

Keywords:

CO2 fluxes, ocean-atmosphere, Bransfield Strait, Antarctica

Abstract

From January 3 to 15, 2018 (austral summer), the ANTAR XXV research cruise took place, covering the area from Trinity Island through the Bransfield Strait, around Elephant Island, and up to Admiralty Bay. During this expedition, 14,970 surface measurements were conducted, including the partial pressure of CO2 to determine the CO2 fluxes in the Bransfield Strait and around Elephant Island, as well as temperature, salinity, dissolved oxygen, and chlorophyll-a. The transitional water masses of Bellingshausen (TBW), Weddell (TWW), and the Scotia Sea were also characterized. The Bransfield Front was identified, defined by the 1 °C isotherm located in the intermediate zone of the strait, where surface dissolved oxygen values ranged from 330 to 340 µmol kg-1 in most of the strait and between 350 and 360 µmol kg-1 around Elephant Island, associated with the melting of glaciers adjacent to the continent. Chlorophyll-a concentrations were measured as an indicator of phytoplankton and primary productivity, with values exceeding 0.7 µg L⁻¹ in the TBW, linked to the higher nutrient content from the melting glaciers of the South Shetland Islands. Wind speeds were below 6 m s⁻¹ in the strait, while around Elephant Island, speeds were close to 10 m s⁻¹. The in situ pCO2 values ranged between 427.7 and 574.6 µatm, with positive CO2 fluxes from 5 to 20 mmol m⁻² day⁻¹ in the Bransfield Strait and from 25 to 35 mmol m⁻² day⁻¹ around Elephant Island. Additionally, chlorophyll-a concentrations in the TBW water masses were associated with decreased seawater pCO2 and, consequently, lower CO2 fluxes compared to the southern zone of the strait near the peninsula, which is affected by the less productive TWW. The eastern zone of Elephant Island exhibited the highest CO2 flux, attributed to stronger winds. The results indicate that the Bransfield Strait and Elephant Island predominantly act as a CO2 source, with an average flux of 11.3 mmol m⁻² day⁻¹.

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Published

2024-08-15

How to Cite

Carhuapoma, W., Graco, M., Vásquez, L., Ledesma, J., Gutiérrez, D., Tapia, P., Medina, K., Loarte, E., & León, H. (2024). CO2 fluxes in the Bransfield strait and surrounding areas of Elephant island during the austral summer 2018. Boletin Instituto Del Mar Del Perú, 39(2), e410. https://doi.org/10.53554/boletin.v39i2.410

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