ESS 53 Homework Assignment #2
Name: Vy Tran
ID: 26926475
Show all your work for any calculations. Include proper units with all answers.
1. Suppose a buoy measures the mean pCO2 of the surface ocean in the North Pacific at 330ppm.
a) Would that region be a source or sink for atmospheric CO 2 today, why?
At the moment, atmospheric pCO2 is 400 ppm, which is larger than 330 ppm, so that region in
the North Pacific would be a sink.
b) Would that region be a source or sink for atmospheric CO 2 in 1850, why?
In 1850, atmospheric pCO2 is about 280 ppm, which is smaller than 330 ppm, so that region
would be a source.
2. Considering the following map of annual sea-air CO2 exchange.
a) What region has the strongest uptake of CO 2 from the atmosphere into the ocean?
Strongest uptake of CO2 would be at the high latitude North Atlantic region.
b) What processes lead to strong uptake of CO2 in this region?
The strongest uptake is where poleward transport of cool water leads to cooling of the surface
leading to a strong drawdown of CO2.
c) What region has the strongest flux of CO2 from the oceans to the atmosphere?
Strongest flux of CO2 from the oceans to the atmosphere would be at the equatorial region of
Pacific Ocean
d) What processes lead to the strongest flux to the atmosphere in this region?
In this region, the North equatorial current and the South equatorial current creates a strong
upwell of warm water current, which becomes a strong carbon source and nutrient rich.
e) Is the outgassing of CO2 to the atmosphere in this region stronger or weaker during an El Niño year,
why?
The outgassing in this region will be weaker during an El Nino year because as the Easterlies
wind weakens, the cold, carbon-rich water cannot make it to the surface of the ocean, suppressing
the level of CO2 that is normally released into the atmosphere
This study source was downloaded by 100000850872992 from CourseHero.com on 02-28-2023 02:02:15 GMT -06:00
https://www.coursehero.com/file/38453806/ESS-53-HW-2docx/
Name: Vy Tran
ID: 26926475
Show all your work for any calculations. Include proper units with all answers.
1. Suppose a buoy measures the mean pCO2 of the surface ocean in the North Pacific at 330ppm.
a) Would that region be a source or sink for atmospheric CO 2 today, why?
At the moment, atmospheric pCO2 is 400 ppm, which is larger than 330 ppm, so that region in
the North Pacific would be a sink.
b) Would that region be a source or sink for atmospheric CO 2 in 1850, why?
In 1850, atmospheric pCO2 is about 280 ppm, which is smaller than 330 ppm, so that region
would be a source.
2. Considering the following map of annual sea-air CO2 exchange.
a) What region has the strongest uptake of CO 2 from the atmosphere into the ocean?
Strongest uptake of CO2 would be at the high latitude North Atlantic region.
b) What processes lead to strong uptake of CO2 in this region?
The strongest uptake is where poleward transport of cool water leads to cooling of the surface
leading to a strong drawdown of CO2.
c) What region has the strongest flux of CO2 from the oceans to the atmosphere?
Strongest flux of CO2 from the oceans to the atmosphere would be at the equatorial region of
Pacific Ocean
d) What processes lead to the strongest flux to the atmosphere in this region?
In this region, the North equatorial current and the South equatorial current creates a strong
upwell of warm water current, which becomes a strong carbon source and nutrient rich.
e) Is the outgassing of CO2 to the atmosphere in this region stronger or weaker during an El Niño year,
why?
The outgassing in this region will be weaker during an El Nino year because as the Easterlies
wind weakens, the cold, carbon-rich water cannot make it to the surface of the ocean, suppressing
the level of CO2 that is normally released into the atmosphere
This study source was downloaded by 100000850872992 from CourseHero.com on 02-28-2023 02:02:15 GMT -06:00
https://www.coursehero.com/file/38453806/ESS-53-HW-2docx/
