Ocean acidification in the subtropical North Pacific estimated from accumulated carbonate data

• Midorikawa Takashi

  Geochemical Research Department, Meteorological Research Institute

• Ishii Masao

  Geochemical Research Department, Meteorological Research Institute

• Sasano Daisuke

  Geochemical Research Department, Meteorological Research Institute

• Kosugi Naohiro

  Geochemical Research Department, Meteorological Research Institute

• Sugimoto Hiroyuki

  Global Environment and Marine Department, Japan Meteorological Agency

• Hiraishi Naotaka

  Global Environment and Marine Department, Japan Meteorological Agency

• Masuda Shinji

  Global Environment and Marine Department, Japan Meteorological Agency

• Suzuki Toru

  Marine Information Research Center, Japan Hydrographic Association

• Takamura Tomomi R.

  Graduate School of Environmental Earth Science, Hokkaido University

• Inoue Hisayuki Y.

  Graduate School of Environmental Earth Science, Hokkaido University

Bibliographic Information

Other Title

• 炭酸系観測データから推定した北太平洋亜熱帯域における酸性化の状況

Abstract

   The recent uptake of anthropogenic carbon by the ocean brings about changes in the surface-ocean carbon cycle that could result in ocean acidification with subsequent serious effects on marine ecosystems. We evaluated the trend of ocean acidification in the surface layer of extensive regions of the subtropical North Pacific using synthesized data for partial pressure of CO₂ for the past 40 years because no precise pH data were available. The results show significant trends of acidification (a pH decrease of 0.01 to 0.02 per decade) over the subtropical North Pacific. The rate of pH decrease, after excluding the contribution from changes in sea surface temperature, was highest in the eastern subtropical region. In this region in particular, the intrusion of subarctic waters with high concentrations of dissolved inorganic carbon could have contributed to the relatively high rate of acidification. Comparisons of the estimated rate of pH decrease for the past 26 years with those for the decade following 1969 and for 50 years into the future suggest an acceleration of acidification in recent years, as well as in the future, depending on the scenario of future anthropogenic CO₂ emission.

Journal

• Papers in Meteorology and Geophysics

  Papers in Meteorology and Geophysics 62 47-56, 2011

  Japan Meteorological Agency / Meteorological Research Institute

Keywords

• Atmospheric Science
• Geophysics

Details

• CRID: 1390001206458232448
• NII Article ID: 130004484929
• DOI: 10.2467/mripapers.62.47
• ISSN: 18806643
• ISSN: 0031126X
• Text Lang: en
• Data Source:
  • JaLC
  • Crossref
  • CiNii Articles
  • KAKEN
• Abstract License Flag: Disallowed