The carbon dioxide content in the surface waters in the Pacific Ocean

Abstract

The carbon dioxide content in surface water in the North and South Pacific Ocean and in the air over the ocean was determined by the automatic, infra-red gas analyzer. The results of observation showed that the large excess in the carbon dioxide content in the ocean surface with respect to that in the air was found in the area off South America and the equatorial region. On the contrary, the deficit in the carbon dioxide content in the surface water was observed in the most part of the North Pacific especially in the temperate zone. The calculation of the rate of exchange of carbon dioxide between the air and the sea was done. According to the results of calculation, the rate of release of carbon dioxide (2.0 /times/ 10/sup 16/ g CO/sub 2//y) from the Pacific Ocean to the air was much larger than the rate of absorption (1.2 /times/ 10/sup 16/ g CO/sub 2//y) from the air into the sea when the thickness of the laminar layer below the sea surface is 10..mu... The Pacific Ocean is regarded to be a source rather than a sink of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. 21 refs., 5 figs.