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JOURNAL OF GEOPHYSICAL RESEARCH, VOL. 108, NO. C4, 3127, doi:10.1029/2000JC000740, 2003

An assessment of the effect of sea surface surfactant on global atmosphere-ocean CO₂ flux

Wu-ting Tsai

Institute of Hydrological Sciences, National Central University, Jungli City, Taoyuan

Kon-Kee Liu

Institute of Oceanography, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan

Abstract

We assess the possible impact of the distribution of naturally occurring surfactants on the direct integration of the global atmosphere-ocean CO₂ flux across the ocean surface. The global atmosphere-ocean CO₂ flux is calculated using the monthly mean ΔpCO₂ climatology compiled by Takahashi et al. [1997] as well as satellite wind speed and sea-surface temperature data. In the absence of any global map of surfactant coverage and as it is known that phytoplankton exudates and degradation products are the major sources of marine surfactants, ocean primary productivity, which can be derived from the satellite-based estimate of chlorophyll concentration, is used as an indicator of the presence of surfactants as proposed by Asher [1997] . From the calculated results it is found that suppression of the upward and downward CO₂ fluxes by marine surfactants exhibits an asymmetric effect: The average percent reduction of absorption flux by surfactants is about twice that of outgassing, which results in an overall decrease in the net global CO₂ uptake by the oceans. For almost half of the year (between January and May) the presence of surfactants does not affect CO₂ outgassing from global oceans. In contrast, throughout the entire year the presence of surfactants suppresses CO₂ absorption by the oceans. The major reduction in absorption fluxes occurs in the northern Pacific and Atlantic (10°N to 70°N) in all seasons and in the Southern Ocean (south of 40°S) in austral spring and summer. However, the most significant decrease in outgassing fluxes occurs in the equatorial and southern Pacific Ocean (40°S to 10°N), particularly in the eastern equatorial and subtropical waters off the southern American coast, in the period of austral spring and summer. Annual net CO₂ flux is reduced by approximately 20% under the surfactant coverage condition that the primary productivity is above a threshold value of 25 g-C m⁻² mom⁻¹ and by about 50% with a threshold of 15 g-C m⁻² mom⁻¹.

Published 26 April 2003.

Index Terms: 0312 Atmospheric Composition and Structure: Air/sea constituent fluxes (3339, 4504); 4504 Oceanography: Physical: Air/sea interactions (0312); 4806 Oceanography: Biological and Chemical: Carbon cycling.

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Citation: Tsai, W., and K. Liu (2003), An assessment of the effect of sea surface surfactant on global atmosphere-ocean CO₂ flux, J. Geophys. Res., 108(C4), 3127, doi:10.1029/2000JC000740.

Copyright 2003 by the American Geophysical Union.