Iceland

Interannual variations in the partial pressure of CO₂ (pCO₂) and pH in the North Atlantic reflect environmental changes that affect the marine ecosystem. Quantifying and understanding this variability, particularly in a region where there is vast uptake of anthropogenic CO₂ from the atmosphere is critical. The North Atlantic OA mooring will measure the variability in the Iceland Sea region, as reflected in ocean temperatures and salinities, and circulation. The mooring results enable us to quantify and understand the structure of, and changes in, the North Atlantic carbonate system as the inventory of anthropogenic CO₂ continues to rise. By measuring pCO₂ and pH, we are able to more accurately and precisely study the changes associated with ocean acidification. The observations will be made within the context the Iceland Sea carbon chemistry time-series (IS-ts) that has been conducted since 1983 by the Marine and Freshwater Research Institute (MFRI) in Iceland.

The mooring is maintained in partnership between NOAA's Pacific Marine Environmental Laboratory and MRI. NOAA's work is supported by the Ocean Acidification Program (OAP).

Finalized Data: National Centers for Environmental Information NCEI.

Plots of surface water and atmospheric CO₂ and surface water pH (click+drag to zoom):