Variations in atmospheric oxygen (O2) are a
sensitive indicator of biogeochemical processes involved in the global carbon
cycle. To improve our understanding of
these processes, we developed a system for continuous high precision
measurements of atmospheric O2 and CO2 that is suitable
for shipboard use. This system was
employed on two voyages in the Western Pacific sector of the Southern Ocean, in
February 2003 and April 2004. Elevated O2
concentrations were observed south of New Zealand and across the Chatham
Rise suggesting that these regions of ocean are outgassing O2 in
late summer to autumn.
Author: R. L. Thompson, A. C. Manning, D. C. Lowe, and C. Rödenbeck (rthomp at bgc-jena dot mpg dot de)
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