Spatial Variability of Surface fCO₂ in the Western North Pacific during Summer 2007

2007년 여름 북서태평양 이산화탄소 분압의 공간 변동성

In order to study spatial variabilities and major controlling factors, we measured fugacity of $CO_2(fCO_2)$, temperature, salinity and nutrients in surface waters of the North Pacific($7^{\circ}30'{\sim}33^{\circ}15'N$, $123^{\circ}56'E{\sim}164^{\circ}24'W$) between September$\sim$October 2007. The North Pacific and the marginal sea were distinguished by $fCO_2$ distribution as well as unique characteristics of temperature and salinity. There was a distinct diurnal SST variation in the tropical North Pacific area, and surface $fCO_2$ coincidently showed diurnal variation. In the North Pacific area, surface $fCO_2$ was mainly controlled by temperature, while in the marginal sea area it was primarily dependent on alkalinity and dissolved inorganic carbon concentrations. Air-sea $CO_2$ flux showed a large spatial variation, with a range of $-6.10{\sim}5.06\;mmol\;m^{-2}day^{-1}$. The center of subtropical gyre of North Pacific acted as a source of $CO_2(3.09{\pm}0.95\;mmol\;m^{-2}day^{-1})$. Tropical western North Pacific (i.e. the 'warm pool' area and the subtropical western North Pacific) acted as weak sources of $CO_2$($1.07{\pm}1.20\;mmol\;m^{-2}day^{-1}$ and $0.50{\pm}0.53\;mmol\;m^{-2}day^{-1}$, respectively). In the marginal sea, however, the flux was estimated to be $-0.68{\pm}1.17\;mmol\;m^{-2}day^{-1}$, indicating that this area acted as a sink for $CO_2$.