Abstract
Based on the carbonate and hydrological parameters of a survey made in August–September 2011, we investigated the distribution and affecting factors of aragonite saturation (Ωarag) in the northern South China Sea. The levels of Ωarag were found to gradually decrease with depth in the northern South China Sea. Surface-water Ωarag values ranged from 2.56 to 3.68, with the highest value occurring in the region of Pearl River-diluted water near the northern coast. The increase in Ωarag due to primary production, stimulated by the Pearl River freshwater input, exceeded the decrease in Ωarag due to the direct input of low-Ωarag fresh water, resulting in high Ωarag in that area. In contrast, Ωarag levels below 2 generally appeared in subsurface water below 50 m in depth. Intense community respiration was the main reason for the low Ωarag. By 2100, bottom-water Ωarag levels could be lower than 1.7, and even the undersaturation of aragonite could appear, due to the oceanic absorption of atmospheric CO2.
Published Version
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