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• Variability along a meridional transect (Hespérides cruises)
• Variability in the North Atlantic gyre (1994-1995)

Variability along a meridional transect (Hespérides cruises)

Atmospheric and seawater pCO2 were measured underway during the FICARAM 1 (October-November 2000) and FICARAM 2 (March-April 2001) cruises. The difference between the oceanic and atmospheric pCO2 is shown below as a function of latitude.

Variability in the North Atlantic gyre

From 1994 to 1995, an autonomous pCO2 system was installed on a cargo ship, the M/V Prince of Seas, sailing from UK to Jamaica. The design of the pCO2 system and the results of these cruises have been published by Cooper et al. (1998). The data are available at the CDIAC.

In May-June, strong CO2 undersaturations and high variability are observed near the UK shelf due to biological activity. In the center of the gyre the seawater pCO2 is close to the atmospheric value.

In August the pCO2 increases as the water warms up leading to a supersaturation in the center of the gyre.

The cooling of the water, in March, explains the decrease of pCO2 and the water becomes undersaturated in CO2.

Near Jamaica the pCO2 remains close to the atmospheric value and the seawater is warm throughout the year.

Fancy diving in Jamaica? Visit the official tourist information board of Jamaica