Abstract
Abstract A method for rapid determination of the partial pressure of carbon dioxide at the sea-surface is described. The method was employed along with a pulsed oxygen electrode to monitor daily changes in surface pCO 2 and O 2 close to a drifting buoy deployed at approximately 59°N, 20°W. During a 4 day period a gradual rise in oxygen saturation and corresponding fall in pCO 2 was observed in the surface layer. Corrections are made for gas exchange of O 2 using wind speed data, the correction being an important fraction of the supersaturation observed in the water. Estimates of net community production and photosynthetic quotients are derived, giving a range of PQs from 0.9 to 1.5. Though variations in the local hydrography reduce the accuracy of these estimates, the potential of this approach to estimate productivity appears promising.
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