Journal article
Coupled CO2 and O2-driven compromises to marine life in summer along the Chilean sector of the Humboldt Current System
Biogeosciences, Vol.9, pp.1183-1194
2012
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Abstract
<p>Carbon dioxide and coupled CO<sub>2</sub> and O<sub>2</sub>-driven compromises to marine life were examined along the Chilean sector of the Humboldt Current System, a particularly vulnerable hypoxic and upwelling area, applying the Respiration index (RI = log<sub>10</sub> <em>p</em>O<sub>2</sub><em>p</em>CO<sub>2</sub>) and the pH-dependent aragonite saturation (Ω) to delineate the water masses where aerobic and calcifying organisms are stressed. As expected, there was a strong negative relationship between oxygen concentration and pH or <em>p</em>CO<sub>2</sub> in the studied area, with the subsurface hypoxic Equatorial Subsurface Waters extending from 100 m to about 300 m depth and supporting elevated <em>p</em>CO<sub>2</sub> values. The lowest RI values, associated to aerobic stress, were found at about 200 m depth and decreased towards the Equator. Increased <em>p</em>CO<sub>2</sub> in the hypoxic water layer reduced the RI values by as much as 0.59 RI units, with the thickness of the upper water layer that presents conditions suitable for aerobic life (RI>0.7) declining by half between 42° S and 28° S. The intermediate waters hardly reached those stations closer to the equator so that the increased <em>p</em>CO<sub>2</sub> lowered pH and the saturation of aragonite. A significant fraction of the water column along the Chilean sector of the Humboldt Current System suffers from CO<sub>2</sub>–driven compromises to biota, including waters corrosive to calcifying organisms, stress to aerobic organisms or both. The habitat free of CO<sub>2</sub>-driven stresses was restricted to the upper mixed layer and to small water parcels at about 1000 m depth. Overall <em>p</em>CO<sub>2</sub> acts as a hinge connecting respiratory and calcification challenges expected to increase in the future, resulting in a spread of the challenges to aerobic organisms.</p>
Details
- Title
- Coupled CO2 and O2-driven compromises to marine life in summer along the Chilean sector of the Humboldt Current System
- Creators
- E Mayol - Pontificia Universidad Católica de ChileSergio Ruiz-Halpern - Instituto Mediterráneo de Estudios AvanzadosC M Duarte - Pontificia Universidad Católica de ChileJ C Castilla - Pontificia Universidad Católica de ChileJ L Pelegri - Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile
- Publication Details
- Biogeosciences, Vol.9, pp.1183-1194
- Identifiers
- 2659; 991012820966002368
- Academic Unit
- Centre for Coastal Biogeochemistry; School of Environment, Science and Engineering; Faculty of Science and Engineering
- Resource Type
- Journal article