Total inorganic carbon in sea ice

Abstract

The method proposed for determining the total inorganic carbon (TC) concentrations in sea ice (Arctic region, North Pole-35 expedition) based on the measurement of the total alkalinity (TA) and the pH in the melt waters without the CO2 exchange with the atmosphere is considered. It is shown that the TC/Sal and TA/TC values through the entire ice section remain similar to these parameters in the subice water. The surface snow and the uppermost ice layers are characterized by elevated TA/TC values, which indicate the reaction Ca2+ + 2HCO3− = ↓CaCO3 + ↑CO2 + H2O. The release of CO2 to the atmosphere due to the decomposition of calcium hydrocarbonate is as high as ∼20 mmol/m2. The meltwater of the examined ice is undersaturated with CO2, which may result in a sink of atmospheric CO2 (∼30 mmol/m2).