A study of atmospheric CO2 transfer within surface fjord water in southern Hood Canal

Abstract

Atmospheric CO2 is expected to continually increase and raise the global temperature by ~2 degree C by 2100. The global ocean consumes 30-40% of all CO2 emitted into the atmosphere every year which limits more dramatic temperature change in the atmosphere. As one of the carbon reservoirs, fjord water has the largest carbon burial rate. It’s been long discussed whether fjord system is a source or a sink for atmospheric CO2. This study examined the air-sea flux of CO2 along southern Hood Canal in Washington State, USA. The partial pressure of CO2 (pCO2) in the surface of Hood Canal exceeded that in the atmosphere by an average of 332.9 μatm resulting in outgassing of CO2 at all 10 stations, and implying that Hood Canal was a source for atmospheric CO2 during January 2018.