Comparison of the results of determination of the carbonate system and the total alkalinity of seawater according to the data obtained by using different analytic methods

On the basis of the data of hydrochemical investigations of waters of the Sevastopol Bay, we discuss the results of the analysis of the carbonate system and the total alkalinity of seawater obtained by using two methods. By using the linear method of least squares, we compare the results of the analysis of the carbonate system according to pH values and the total alkalinity and according to pH values and dissolved inorganic carbon. It is shown that, within the investigated range of pH values, Alk, and TCO₂, the mean relative deviations of values of the fugacity of CO₂ and the concentrations of dissolved CO₂ and CO₃²⁻ ions computed by using different input parameters are equal to 3.0, 1.0, and 9.6%, respectively.     

Recent increase in surface fCO<Subscript>2</Subscript> in the western subtropical North Pacific

We observed unusually high levels (> 440 μatm) of carbon dioxide fugacity (fCO₂) in surface seawater in the western subtropical North Pacific, the area where Subtropical Mode Water is formed, during summer 2015. The NOAA Kuroshio Extension Observatory moored buoy located in this region also measured high CO₂ values, up to 500 μatm during this period. These high sea surface fCO₂ (fCO_2SW) values are explained by much higher normalized total dissolved inorganic carbon and slightly higher normalized total alkalinity concentrations in this region compared to the equatorial Pacific. Moreover, these values are much higher than the climatological CO₂ values, even considering increasing atmospheric CO₂, indicating a recent large increase in sea surface CO₂ concentrations. A large seasonal change in sea surface temperature contributed to higher surface fCO_2SW in the summer of 2015.     

The influence of island generated eddies on the carbon dioxide system, south of the Canary Islands

Measurements of surface partial pressure of CO₂ and water column alkalinity, pH_T, nutrients, oxygen, fluorescence and hydrography were carried out, south of the Canary Islands during September 1998. Cyclonic and anticyclonic eddies were alternatively observed from the northwestern area to the central area of the Canary Islands. Nutrient pumping and vertical uplifting of the deep chlorophyll maximum by cyclonic eddies were also ascertained by upward displacement of dissolved inorganic carbon. A model was applied to determine the net inorganic carbon balance in the cyclonic eddy. The fluxes were determined considering both the diffusive and convective contributions from the upward pumping and the corresponding horizontal transport of water outside the area. An increase in the total inorganic carbon concentration in the upper layers inside the eddy field of 133 mmol C m^− 2 d^− 1 was determined. The upward flux of inorganic carbon decreased the effect of the increased primary production on the carbon dioxide chemistry. The reduced fCO₂ inside the cyclonic eddy, 15 μatm lower than that observed in non-affected surface water, was explained by thermodynamic aspects, biological activity, eddy upward pumping and diffusion and air–sea water exchange effects.     

CO2 in the Weddell Gyre and Antarctic Circumpolar Current: austral autumn and early winter

Quasi-continuous fugacity of CO₂ (fCO₂) data were collected in the eastern Weddell Gyre and southern Antarctic Circumpolar Current (ACC) of the Southern Ocean during austral autumn 1996. Full depth Total CO₂ (TCO₂) sections are presented for austral autumn and winter (1992) cruises. Pronounced fCO₂ gradients were observed at the Southern Ocean fronts. In the Weddell Gyre, fCO₂ regimes appeared to coincide with surface and subsurface hydrographic regimes. The southern ACC was supersaturated with respect to CO₂, as was part of the northern Weddell Gyre. The southern Weddell Gyre was markedly undersaturated. The great potential of autumn cooling for generating undersaturation and CO₂ uptake from the atmosphere was demonstrated. In the northeastern Weddell Gyre, upwelling of CO₂- and salt-rich deep water was shown to play a role as the horizontal fCO₂ distribution closely resembled that of the surface salinity. The total uptake of atmospheric CO₂ by the Weddell Gyre in autumn (45 days) was calculated to be 7·10¹² g C. The deep TCO₂ distribution noticeably reflected the different water masses in the region. A new deep TCO₂ maximum was detected in the ACC, which apparently characterizes the boundary between the equatorward flowing Antarctic Bottom Water (AABW) and the Circumpolar Deep Water (CDW). East of the Weddell Gyre, the AABW stratum is much thicker (>2000 m) than more to the west, on the prime meridian (<300 m).     

pH variability off Goa (eastern Arabian Sea) and the response of sea urchin to ocean acidification scenarios

The increasing atmospheric CO₂ concentration in the last few decades has resulted in a decrease in oceanic pH. In this study, we assessed the natural variability of pH in coastal waters off Goa, eastern Arabian Sea. pH_T showed large variability (7.6–8.1) with low pH conditions during south-west monsoon (SWM), and the variability is found to be associated with upwelling rather than freshwater runoff. Considering that marine biota inhabiting dynamic coastal waters off Goa are exposed to such wide range of natural fluctuations of pH, an acidification experiment was carried out. We studied the impact of low pH on the local population of sea urchin Stomopneustes variolaris (Lamarck, 1816). Sea urchins were exposed for 210 days to three treatments of pH_T: 7.96, 7.76 and 7.46. Our results showed that S. variolaris at pH_T 7.96 and 7.76 were not affected, whereas the ones at pH_T 7.46 showed adverse effects after 120 days and 50% mortality by 210 days. However, even after exposure to low pH for 210 days, 50% organisms survived. Under low pH conditions (pH_T 7.46), the elemental composition of sea urchin spines exhibited deposition of excess Sr²⁺ as compared to Mg²⁺ ions. We conclude that although the sea urchins would be affected in future high CO₂ waters, at present they are not at risk even during the south-west monsoon when low pH waters reside on the shelf.     

Responses of carbon dioxide in western tropical Pacific to 1991~1993 ENSO event

On the basis of the data of the partial pressure of CO₂ (P_CO2)and the concentration of the total dissolved CO₂(T_CO2) in surface water during the expeditions in Nov.-Dec. 1991, the world ocean circulation experiment (WOCE) and Oct. 1992-Mar. 1993, the tropical ocean-global atmosphere coupled ocean-atmosphere response experiment (TOGA COARE) in the western tropical Pacific and of the comparison with data from 1986 to 1990 TOGA expeditions and that from Japan Meteorological Agency, the response of CO₂ in surface water to ENSO event is proved. The CO₂ signals indicated that the air-sea system in the western and central tropical Pacific from 1991 to 1993, except for a short period in autumn of 1992, was in a strong state of ENSO.
The change of CO₂ in the floating stations near 2°S, 155°E from Nov. 1992 to Mar. 1993 reflected the change of currents, water mass and its thermal and salt content during the forming and developing of ENSO.     

Was a carbon balance measured in the equatorial Pacific during JGOFS?

The likelihood that the carbon fluxes measured as part of the US-JGOFS field program in the equatorial Pacific ocean (EgPac) during 1992 yielded a balanced carbon budget for the surface ocean was determined. The major carbon fluxes incorporated into a surface carbon budget were: new production, particulate organic carbon (POC) and dissolved organic carbon (DOC) export, CaC0₃ export, C0₂ gas evasion, dissolved inorganic carbon (DIC) supply, and the time rate of charge. The ratio of the measured concentration gradients of DOC and DIC provided a constraint on the ratio of POC/DOC export. Uncertainties of ±30–50% for individual carbon flux measurements reduce the likelihood that a carbon balance can be measured during a JGOFS process-type study. As a benchmark, carbon fluxes were prescribed to yield a hypothetical surface carbon budget that was, on average, balanced. Given the typical errors in the individual carbon fluxes, however, there was only about a 30% chance that this hypothetical budget could be measured to be balanced to ±50%. Using this benchmark, it was determined that there was a 95 % chance that the carbon flux measurements yielded a surface DIC budget balanced (to ±50%) during El Nino conditions in boreal spring 1992, when the total organic carbon export rate was - 5 mmol C m-2 day- 1 and the POC export was 3 mmol C m⁻² day⁻¹. In boreal fall 1992, during cold period conditions, there was a 70% chance that the surface carbon DIC budget was balanced when the total organic carbon export rate was 20 mmol C m⁻² day⁻¹ and export was -13 mmol C m-2 day-'. The DOC to DIC concentration gradient ratio of - -0.15, measured in depth profiles down to 100m and in surface waters, was used as an important constraint that most (> 70%) of the organic carbon exported from the euphotic zone was POC rather than DOC. If a balanced surface DIC budget was used to test the compatibility of individual carbon fluxes measured during EgPac, then a three- to four-fold increase in total and particulate organic carbon export between spring and fall is indicated. This increase was not reflected in the POC loss rates measured by drifting sediment trap collections or estimated by²³⁴Th deficiencies coupled with the C/Th measured on suspended particles.     

东海中北部海域秋季表层海水中无机碳与海气界面碳的迁移

基于2010 年11 月对长江口外东海中北部海域的综合调查, 系统研究了该海域的无机碳体系参数的分布特征、海?气界面二氧化碳通量及其影响因素。研究结果表明, 该海域秋季溶解无机碳(DIC)高值区主要出现在调查海域东北部及长江口附近海域, 而调查海域南部DIC 含量较少且变化平缓, 其主要是受台湾东部流向东北方向的黑潮支流及长江冲淡水的影响; 表层海水CO₂分压(pCO₂)值变化范围为40.8～63.5 Pa, 呈现沿黑潮支流流入方向由东南向西北逐渐增高的趋势。秋季表层海水pCO₂与温度(T)、盐度(S)有较好的负相关性, 说明海水温度升高和盐度增加, pCO₂降低, 反之亦然。另外, 通过估算得出, 秋季CO₂海-气交换通量为2.69～33.66 mmol/(m²·d), 平均值为(14.35 ± 7.06 )mmol/(m²·d),其在长江口邻近海域相对较大, 而在调查海域南部相对较小; 2010 年秋季水体向大气释放CO₂的量(以碳计)为(2.35 ± 1.16)×104 t/d, 是大气CO₂较强的源, 说明东海中北部海域秋季总体上是CO₂的源。     

The effect of analytical error on the evaluation of the components of the aquatic carbon-dioxide system

A study has been made of the effect of error in the measurement of the determinable parameters of the marine CO₂ system on the calculation of the remaining parameters from equations such as those of Park (1969). This approach can be used either to assess and compare experimental data, or to aid in the choice of suitable combinations of determinable parameters for solving any particular problem. Now that the total alkalinity and total inorganic carbon (C_T) can be determined extremely accurately by titration, a combination of carbonate alkalinity and C_T is the most satisfactory combination for the majority of applications. If, however, P_CO2 is required it should be measured directly.     

Annual cycle of fCO2 under sea-ice and in open water in Prydz Bay, East Antarctica

The annual cycle of dissolved nutrients and the fugacity of CO₂ (fCO₂), calculated from the concentration of dissolved inorganic carbon (DIC) and pH, was studied over a 14-month long period (December 1993 to February 1995) at a site in Prydz Bay near Davis Station, Vestfold Hills, East Antarctica. Significant spring decreases in fCO₂ began under the sea-ice in mid-October, when both water column and sea-ice algal activity resulted in the removal of nutrients and DIC and increased pH. Minimum fCO₂ (<100 μatm) and lowest nutrient and DIC concentrations occurred in December and January. The low summer fCO₂ values were clearly the result of biological activity. The seasonal depletion of dissolved nitrate reached 85% in mid-summer when chlorophyll-a concentrations exceeded 15 mg m⁻³. Oceanic uptake of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, calculated from the fugacity difference and daily wind speeds, averaged more than 30 mmol m⁻² day⁻¹ during the summer ice-free period. This exchange replaced approximately half of the DIC consumed by biological activity. Apparent nutrient utilisation ratios (C/N/P) were close to Redfield values. In autumn fCO₂ began to rise, continuing slowly well into winter, and reaching a maximum close to modern atmospheric values between July and September. This increase can be attributed to a combination of local remineralisation of organic carbon in the water column and the steady increase in the mixing depth of the water column. At first glance, this suggests that air–sea equilibration occurred in winter despite the sea-ice cover, perhaps by horizontal circulation from regions outside the pack ice, or through openings in the ice. However, the persistent 15 to 20% undersaturation of dissolved oxygen throughout the winter suggests an alternate explanation. The late winter fCO₂ level may represent a characteristic established by global circulation, so that as a result of increasing atmospheric CO₂ concentrations, these Antarctic waters are in transition from being a winter-time source of CO₂ to the atmosphere to becoming a sink. Our fCO₂ observations emphasize the need to address seasonal variations in assessing Antarctic contributions to the oceanic control of atmospheric CO₂.     

Calibration and evaluation of a carbonate microsensor for studies of the marine inorganic carbon system

Accurate and rapid determination of inorganic carbon constituents in ocean environments is important for understanding the carbon cycle, especially in the context of ocean-acidification research. A microsensor capable of directly measuring carbonate ion (CO₃ ^2–) concentrations would be desirable. In this study, a carbonate microsensor with a polymeric liquid membrane was fabricated, and two calibration methods were used to evaluate its performance. The first method was based on continuous titration. Small increments of HCl were added to seawater or Na₂CO₃ solution to adjust the total alkalinity and pH values and thus obtain a series of carbonate concentrations. The second method used a series of discrete standards. Varying amounts of HCl or NaOH were added to separate seawater aliquots, and the CO₃ ^2– concentration of each standard was calculated from the resulting total alkalinity and total dissolved inorganic carbon. Both methods were found to be adequate for achieving accurate calibration of the CO₃ ^2– sensor, and both are suitable for field work. The discrete standards method, however, is more convenient and may provide a better linear range at low CO₃ ^2– concentrations (detection range: 2–300 μmol/kg) than the continuous titration method in seawater (detection range: 10–250 μmol/kg). This CO₃ ^2– microsensor can be used for 5–7 d and detects changes in carbonate concentration as low as 2 μmol/kg in the inorganic carbon constituents of the environments where marine calcareous organisms grow. The CO₃ ^2– microelectrode was further assessed by applying it to the measurement of pore-water CO₃ ^2– concentration profiles in a marine sediment core.     

Anthropogenic CO2 fluxes in the Otranto Strait (E. Mediterranean) in February 1995

This study presents the distribution and fluxes of dissolved inorganic carbon (C_T), total alkalinity (A_T) and anthropogenic carbon (C_ant) along the Otranto strait, during February 1995. Based on a limited number of properties (temperature, dissolved oxygen, total alkalinity and dissolved inorganic carbon), the composite tracer TrOCA was used to estimate the concentration of anthropogenic CO₂ in the Otranto strait.Total alkalinity exhibits high values and weak variability throughout the water column of the strait, probably associated with the dense water formation processes in the Adriatic basin that induce a rapid transport of the coastal alkalinity to the deep waters. Elevated C_ant concentrations and high anthropogenic pH variations are observed in the bottom layer of the strait, associated with the presence of Adriatic Deep Water (ADW). The study shows that large amounts of C_ant have penetrated the highly alkaline Eastern Mediterranean waters, thereby causing a significant pH reduction since the pre-industrial era.Estimates of the transports of C_T and C_ant through the strait indicate that during February 1995, the Adriatic Sea imports through the Otranto strait natural and anthropogenic carbon and acts as a net sink of carbon for the Ionian Sea. The anthropogenic carbon that is imported to the Adriatic Sea represents less than 1% of the net C_T inflow. The Levantine Intermediate Water (LIW) contributes to about one-third of the total C_T and C_ant inflow. Although the amounts of C_ant annually transported by LIW and ADW are almost equal, the contribution of C_ant to the C_T transported by each water mass is slightly higher in ADW (3.1%) than in LIW (2.6%), as a result of its higher mean C_ant concentration. The ADW, despite its weak contribution to the total outflow of C_ant, has a vital role for the sequestration and storage of the anthropogenic carbon, as this water mass is the main component of the Eastern Mediterranean Deep Waters and, thus, the anthropogenic CO₂ is transferred in the deep horizons of the Eastern Mediterranean, where it remains isolated for many years.     

Retrieval of remotely sensed air–sea carbon flux in the Chinese Bohai Sea

ABSTRACT

Having a reliable ocean carbon flux (f(CO₂)) retrieval model is essential to monitoring the global carbon cycle and to evaluating the climate change. Remote sensing techniques provide alternatives for f(CO₂) retrieval with its advantages of wide area surveys and real-time monitoring. In the present study, a semianalytical f(CO₂) estimation model was developed based on remote sensing data and in situ measurements in the Chinese Bohai Sea. The used model performed well (R²?=?0.84) in deriving f(CO₂) based on the collected remotely sensed dataset, including sea surface temperature, estimated sea surface salinity, wind speed, Chl-a concentration. The results showed that the distribution of partial pressure of carbon dioxide (p(CO₂)) and f(CO₂) varied spatially and temporally during the 12 months in 2009. The spatial fluctuations of p(CO₂) and f(CO₂) in Bohai Sea in summer and autumn were more obvious than that in Spring and Winter. The highest values of p(CO₂) and f(CO₂) generally appeared in coastal regions. Moreover, the average f(CO₂) value of the 12 months showed that the Bohai Sea performed as a weak carbon source in 2009. The results provided technical and data support for carbon management and climate negotiation in the Bohai Sea.     

A preliminary study of carbon system in the East China Sea

In the central part of the East China Sea, the activity of CO₂ in the surface water and total carbonate, pH and alkalinity in the water column were determined in winter and autumn of 1993. The activity of CO₂ in the continental shelf water was about 50 ppm lower than that of surface air. This decrease corresponds to the absorption of about 40 gC/m²/yr of atmospheric CO₂ in the coastal zone or 1 GtC/yr in the global continental shelf, if this rate is applicable to entire coastal seas. The normalized total carbonate contents were higher in the water near the coast and near the bottom. This increase toward the bottom may be due to the organic matter deposited on the bottom. This conclusion is supported by the distribution of pH. The normalized alkalinity distribution also showed higher values in the near-coast water, but in the surface water, indicating the supply of bicarbonate from river water. The residence time of the East China Sea water, including the Yellow Sea water, has been calculated to be about 0.8 yr from the excess alkalinity and the alkalinity input. Using this residence time and the excess carbonate, we can estimate that the amount of dissolved carbonate transported from the coastal zone to the oceanic basin is about 70 gC/m²/yr or 2 GtC/yr/area-of-global-continental-shelf. This also means that the rivers transport carbon to the oceans at a rate of 30 gC/m²/yr of the coastal sea or 0.8 GtC/yr/ area-of-global shelf, the carbon consisting of dissolved inorganic carbonate and terrestrial organic carbon decomposed on the continental shelf.     

The carbonic system distribution and fluxes in the NE Atlantic during Spring 1991

The potential of the North Atlantic as a sink for atmospheric CO₂ was investigated by studying the carbonic system using data obtained during the spring of 1991. The air-sea flux of CO₂ was related to chlorophyll and other environmental variables, and the regeneration of carbon in the mid-ocean studied by examining vertical sections representative of the study area.Poor correlations were found between pCO₂ and chlorophyll throughout much of the study area, although a good correlation was found along 16°W. The highest air-sea fluxes of CO₂ were calculated for areas where chlorophyll was highest (45°13′N, 16°04′W), and where the greatest wind speeds occurred (47°51′N, 28°18′W). The mean CO₂ flux from the atmosphere to the ocean during the study period (May) was calculated as 0.65mmol m⁻²d⁻¹, which compares well with other studies. Regression equations were developed to predict total inorganic carbon from nutrients; errors were typically less than 1 μmol kg⁻¹. Regeneration of carbon in the mid-ocean occurred in two principal stages: 0–1000m and>2300m. Regeneration in the upper zone was dominated by soft tissue carbon (86%), with skeletal carbon (calcite) contributing only 14%. The fraction of regenerated carbon of skeletal origin increased to 51% in the>2300m zone.     

Biological versus physical processes as drivers of large oscillations of the air–sea CO2 flux in the Antarctic marginal ice zone during summer

The fugacity of CO₂ and abundance of chlorophyll a (Chla) were determined in two long transects from the Polar Front to the Antarctic Continent in austral summer, December 1995–January 1996. Large undersaturations of CO₂ in the surface water were observed coinciding with high Chla content. In the major hydrographic regions the mean air–sea fluxes were found to range from −3 to +7 mmol m⁻² d⁻¹ making these regions act as a sink as well as a source for CO₂. In the total 40-d period, the summation of the several strong source and sink regions revealed an overall modest net source of 0.3 mmol m⁻² d⁻¹, this based on the Wanninkhof (J. Geophys. Res. 97 (1992) 7373) quadratic relationship at in situ windspeed. A simple budget approach was used to quantify the role of phytoplankton blooms in the inorganic carbonate system of the Antarctic seas in a time frame spanning several weeks. The major controlling physical factors such as air–sea flux, Ekman pumping and upwelling are included. Net community production varies between −9 and +7 mmol m⁻² d⁻¹, because of the large oscillations in the dominance of autotrophic (CO₂ fixation) versus heterotrophic (CO₂ respiration) activity. Here the mixed layer depth is the major controlling factor. When integrated over time the gross influx and efflux of CO₂ from air to sea is large, but the net residual air/sea exchange is a modest efflux from sea to atmosphere.     

Summer and winter air–sea CO2 fluxes in the Southern Ocean

The seasonal variability of the carbon dioxide (CO₂) system in the Southern Ocean, south of 50°S, is analysed from observations obtained in January and August 2000 during OISO cruises conducted in the Indian Antarctic sector. In the seasonal ice zone, SIZ (south of 58°S), surface ocean CO₂ concentrations are well below equilibrium during austral summer. During this season, when sea-ice is not obstructing gas exchange at the air–sea interface, the oceanic CO₂ sink ranges from −2 to −4 mmol/m²/d in the SIZ. In the permanent open ocean zone, POOZ (50–58°S), surface oceanic fugacity fCO₂ increases from summer to winter. The seasonal fCO₂ variations (from 10 to 30 μatm) are relatively low compared to seasonal amplitudes observed in the subtropics or the subantarctic zones. However, these variations in the POOZ are large enough to cross the atmospheric level from summer to winter. Therefore, this region is neither a permanent CO₂ sink nor a permanent CO₂ source. In the POOZ, air–sea CO₂ fluxes calculated from observations are about −1.1 mmol/m²/d in January (a small sink) and 2.5 mmol/m²/d in August (a source). These estimates obtained for only two periods of the year need to be extrapolated on a monthly scale in order to calculate an integrated air–sea CO₂ flux on an annual basis. For doing this, we use a biogeochemical model that creates annual cycles for nitrate, inorganic carbon, total alkalinity and fCO₂. The changing pattern of ocean CO₂ summer sink and winter source is well reproduced by the model. It is controlled mainly by the balance between summer primary production and winter deep vertical mixing. In the POOZ, the annual air–sea CO₂ flux is about −0.5 mol/m²/yr, which is small compared to previous estimates based on oceanic observations but comparable to the small CO₂ sink deduced from atmospheric inverse methods. For reducing the uncertainties attached to the global ocean CO₂ sink south of the Polar Front the regional results presented here should be synthetized with historical and new observations, especially during winter, in other sectors of the Southern Ocean.     

Coulometric total carbon dioxide analysis for marine studies: maximizing the performance of an automated gas extraction system and coulometric detector

A global survey of the distribution of dissolved CO₂ taking advantage of sampling opportunities provided by the World Ocean Circulation Experiment: World Hydrographic Program (WOCE-WHP) is being carried out through 1995. Goals include the measurement of oceanic inorganic carbon transport and the development of a data base from which future fossil-fuel CO₂ build-up can be monitored. The analytical method selected for total carbon dioxide (C_T) is gas extraction of acidified seawater with coulometric titration of the acid formed by the resultant carbon dioxide and monoethanolamine. To combine high accuracy and precision (± 1.5 μmol/kg for C_T ≥ 2000 μmol/kg) with a high rate of analysis, we have modified an automated single-parameter system. Following prototype development between 1987 and 1990, an instrument emerged with the acronym Somma standing for single-operator multiparameter metabolic analyzer. Improved functional and operating procedures have integrated electronic calibration, CO₂ gas calibration, and sample analysis with automated pressure, temperature, and conductivity (salinity) sensing into a single convenient transportable package.     

The carbon dioxide system in the northwestern Indian Ocean during south–west monsoon

Data on the carbonate system of the Northwestern Indian Ocean obtained on a cruise of F.S. Meteor during SW monsoon in July/August 1995 were compared with those of George et al. [George, M.D., Kumar, M.D., Naqvi, S.W.A., Banerjee, S., Narvekar, P.V., de Sousa, S.N., Jayakumar, D.A., 1994. A study of the carbon dioxide system in the northern Indian Ocean during premonsoon. Mar. Chem. 47, 243–254] collected during intermonsoon. In general, deep water values agreed well between the two expeditions. Surface waters, however, showed a substantial increase in dissolved inorganic carbon (C_T) in the coastal regions due to strong upwelling in the SW monsoon. This was also accompanied by very high CO₂ partial pressures in surface waters. The north–south gradients in vertical profiles of the measured parameters in the Arabian Sea are discussed by comparing profiles from the oligotrophic equatorial region with those from the highly productive central Arabian Sea. The effect of denitrification on regenerated C_T and A_T is minor, with contributions of <9 and <8 μmol kg⁻¹, respectively, to the total amount regenerated also utilizing oxygen. The dissolution of biogenic carbonates is discussed; different approaches to define the depth, where the dissolution starts (lysocline(s), carbonate critical depth (CCrD)), are compared together with the calculation of saturation depth from carbonate concentrations. It is shown, that small differences in measured C_T and A_T (found between our data and those measured during GEOSECS) and different calculation approaches to the CO₂ system (different dissociation constants for species involved and taking into account phosphate and silicate concentrations) can produce pronounced differences in the calculated saturation depths. However, C_T and A_T data suggest substantial dissolution of biogenic carbonate in the water column even above the calcite lysocline, irrespective of the procedures followed to calculate this horizon.