Articles | Volume 19, issue 22
https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-19-5151-2022
© Author(s) 2022. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-19-5151-2022
© Author(s) 2022. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
Research article
| 
14 Nov 2022
Research article |
| 14 Nov 2022
| 14 Nov 2022
Metabolic alkalinity release from large port facilities (Hamburg, Germany) and impact on coastal carbon storage
Mona Norbisrath
CORRESPONDING AUTHOR
Institute of Carbon Cycles, Helmholtz-Zentrum Hereon, 21502 Geesthacht, Germany
Institute for Chemistry and Biology of the Marine Environment, Carl
von Ossietzky University Oldenburg, 26129 Oldenburg, Germany
Johannes Pätsch
Institute of Carbon Cycles, Helmholtz-Zentrum Hereon, 21502 Geesthacht, Germany
Institute of Oceanography, University Hamburg, 20146 Hamburg, Germany
Kirstin Dähnke
Institute of Carbon Cycles, Helmholtz-Zentrum Hereon, 21502 Geesthacht, Germany
Tina Sanders
Institute of Carbon Cycles, Helmholtz-Zentrum Hereon, 21502 Geesthacht, Germany
Gesa Schulz
Institute of Carbon Cycles, Helmholtz-Zentrum Hereon, 21502 Geesthacht, Germany
Institute of Geology, Center for Earth System Research and
Sustainability (CEN), University Hamburg, 20146 Hamburg, Germany
Justus E. E. van Beusekom
Institute of Carbon Cycles, Helmholtz-Zentrum Hereon, 21502 Geesthacht, Germany
Helmuth Thomas
Institute of Carbon Cycles, Helmholtz-Zentrum Hereon, 21502 Geesthacht, Germany
Institute for Chemistry and Biology of the Marine Environment, Carl
von Ossietzky University Oldenburg, 26129 Oldenburg, Germany
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We present an observational study investigating total alkalinity (TA) in the Dutch Wadden Sea. Discrete water samples were used to identify the TA spatial distribution patterns and locate and shed light on TA sources. By observing a tidal cycle, the sediments and pore water exchange were identified as local TA sources. We assumed metabolically driven CaCO3 dissolution as the TA source in the upper, oxic sediments and anaerobic metabolic processes as TA sources in the deeper, anoxic ones.
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Onur Kerimoglu, Yoana G. Voynova, Fatemeh Chegini, Holger Brix, Ulrich Callies, Richard Hofmeister, Knut Klingbeil, Corinna Schrum, and Justus E. E. van Beusekom
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In this study, using extensive field observations and a numerical model, we analyzed the physical and biogeochemical structure of a coastal system following an extreme flood event. Our results suggest that a number of anomalous observations were driven by a co-occurrence of peculiar meteorological conditions and increased riverine discharges. Our results call for attention to the combined effects of hydrological and meteorological extremes that are anticipated to increase in frequency.
Chantal Mears, Helmuth Thomas, Paul B. Henderson, Matthew A. Charette, Hugh MacIntyre, Frank Dehairs, Christophe Monnin, and Alfonso Mucci
Biogeosciences, 17, 4937–4959, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-17-4937-2020, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-17-4937-2020, 2020
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Major research initiatives have been undertaken within the Arctic Ocean, highlighting this area's global importance and vulnerability to climate change. In 2015, the international GEOTRACES program addressed this importance by devoting intense research activities to the Arctic Ocean. Among various tracers, we used radium and carbonate system data to elucidate the functioning and vulnerability of the hydrographic regime of the Canadian Arctic Archipelago, bridging the Pacific and Atlantic oceans.
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Short summary
Total alkalinity (TA) regulates the oceanic storage capacity of atmospheric CO2. TA is also metabolically generated in estuaries and influences coastal carbon storage through its inflows. We used water samples and identified the Hamburg port area as the one with highest TA generation. Of the overall riverine TA load, 14 % is generated within the estuary. Using a biogeochemical model, we estimated potential effects on the coastal carbon storage under possible anthropogenic and climate changes.
Total alkalinity (TA) regulates the oceanic storage capacity of atmospheric CO2. TA is also...
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