Abstract
Sulphur hexafluoride (SF6) has potential as a transient tracer of recently ventilated water masses, as its atmospheric burden continues to increase. Northern Arabian Sea hydrography was examined using measurements of atmospheric and dissolved SF6, CFC‐11, CFC‐12 and CFC‐113. Persian Gulf Water (PGW) was characterised by its SF6 signal, and the time elapsed since its formation was evaluated by two approaches. Four ventilation age estimates were derived from SF6/CFC‐11, SF6/CFC‐12, CFC‐113/CFC‐11 and CFC‐113/CFC‐12, and their agreement at the oceanic stations confirms the validity of SF6 as a transient tracer. A second approach, of correcting SF6 partial pressure for PGW dilution by an optimal mixing model and referencing to the atmospheric SF6 chronology, provided a relative tracer age. This indicated a PGW flow of 0.016 (+/−0.003) m/s across the northern Arabian Sea, with an associated oxygen consumption of 10.1 µmol/l p.a. that exceeds tracer‐derived estimates but confirms rates derived from export flux.
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