Total inorganic carbon in sea ice

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).