Carbon dioxide chemistry of the SE Mediterranean open waters off Egypt
Titel:
Carbon dioxide chemistry of the SE Mediterranean open waters off Egypt
Auteur:
Mahmoud, T. H. Fahmy, M. M.
Verschenen in:
Chemistry & ecology
Paginering:
Jaargang 21 (2005) nr. 1 pagina's 37-45
Jaar:
2005-02
Inhoud:
The research cruise was conducted on board the R/V Meteor M51/2 during October-November 2001. Four deep stations located north of Rosetta branch of the River Nile (st. 546), Dabaa (st. 547) and Salloom (sts. 549 and 550) were selected to represent CO2 components in the SE Mediterranean open waters off Egypt. Total alkalinity, salinity, temperature and pH were measured. Bicarbonate, partial pressure, dissolved and total CO2 were calculated. The study area was divided into four water masses: SW, LIW, MDW and DW masses. MDW mass showed, on average, the highest concentrations of total alkalinity (1.99 ± 0.63 meq l-1), bicarbonate (1.77 ± 0.49 mM l-1), total CO2 (1.75 ± 0.54 mM l-1), P [image omitted](0.34 ± 0.21 × 10-3 atmosphere) and D [image omitted](13.55 ± 8.31 mM l-1). These high concentrations were due to the fact that most organic debris produced in the SW and LTW was destroyed in MDW and recycled there. All investigated parameters, on average, showed the lowest values of pH (8.20 ± 0.04), total alkalinity (1.52 ± 0.86 meq l-1), bicarbonate (1.42 ± 0.85 mM l-1), total CO2 (1.30 ± 0.77 mM l-1), P [image omitted] (0.18 ± 0.09 × 10-3 atmosphere) and dissolved CO2 (7.08 ± 3.79 mM l-1) in the DW. These low values may be due to the fact that within the DW reservoir CO2 can be utilized in the dissolution of sedimentary carbonates.
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