Journal Article

CO sub(2) Input Dynamics and Air-Sea Exchange in a Large New England Estuary

Salisbury, Joseph E, Hunt, Christopher W, Vandemark, Douglas

2014

Overview

Repeated surveys of the Kennebec estuary, a macrotidal river estuary in Maine, USA, between 2004 and 2008 found spatial and temporal variability both in sources of carbon dioxide (CO sub(2)) to the estuary and the air-sea flux of estuary CO sub(2). On an annual basis, the surveyed area of the Kennebec estuary had an area-weighted average partial pressure of CO sub(2) (pCO sub(2)) of 559 mu atm. The area-weighted average CO sub(2) flux to the atmosphere was 3.54 mol C m super(-2) year super(-1). Overall, the Kennebec estuary was an annual source of 7.2x10 super(7) mol CO sub(2) to the atmosphere. Distinct seasonality in estuarine pCO sub(2) was observed, with shifts in the seasonal pattern evident between lower and higher salinities. Fluxes of CO sub(2) from the estuary were elevated following two summertime storms, and inputs of riverine CO sub(2) outweighed internal estuarine CO sub(2) inputs in nearly all months. River and estuarine inputs of CO sub(2) represented 68 and 32 % of the total CO sub(2) contributions to the estuary, respectively. This study examines the variability of CO sub(2) in a large New England estuary, and highlights the comparatively high contribution of CO sub(2) from riverine sources.

• Subject: Brackish