Vulnerability of a semienclosed estuarine sea to ocean acidification in contrast with hypoxia

Abstract The Strait of Georgia (SoG) is a large semienclosed estuary that spatially dominates the Salish Sea on the North American Pacific coast. The region is well populated, harbors significant aquaculture, and is vulnerable to climate change. We present the first inorganic carbon data collected i...

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Main Authors: Debby Ianson, Susan E. Allen, Benjamin L. Moore‐Maley, Sophia C. Johannessen, and Robie W. Macdonald
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2016-06-01
Series:Geophysical Research Letters
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1002/2016GL068996
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author Debby Ianson
Susan E. Allen
Benjamin L. Moore‐Maley
Sophia C. Johannessen
and Robie W. Macdonald
author_facet Debby Ianson
Susan E. Allen
Benjamin L. Moore‐Maley
Sophia C. Johannessen
and Robie W. Macdonald
author_sort Debby Ianson
collection DOAJ
description Abstract The Strait of Georgia (SoG) is a large semienclosed estuary that spatially dominates the Salish Sea on the North American Pacific coast. The region is well populated, harbors significant aquaculture, and is vulnerable to climate change. We present the first inorganic carbon data collected in the SoG covering all seasons (2003 and 2010–2012) and put them into the context of local circulation and oxygen cycles. Results show that the SoG has a higher carbon content and lower pH than surrounding waters. Aragonite saturation horizons in the SoG do not become deeper than 20–30 m and shoal to the surface for extended periods. Furthermore, incoming upwelled “acidified” water from the outer coast actually increases local pH. Finally, intense mixing in the physically restricted channels connecting the SoG to the outer coast allows significant oxygen uptake but minimal CO2 out gassing, protecting the SoG from hypoxia but not from ocean acidification.
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language English
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series Geophysical Research Letters
spelling doaj-art-31f61887df0342fb82e576c9bda0a39e2025-08-20T01:51:54ZengWileyGeophysical Research Letters0094-82761944-80072016-06-0143115793580110.1002/2016GL068996Vulnerability of a semienclosed estuarine sea to ocean acidification in contrast with hypoxiaDebby Ianson0Susan E. Allen1Benjamin L. Moore‐Maley2Sophia C. Johannessen3and Robie W. Macdonald4Institute of Ocean Sciences Fisheries and Oceans Canada Sidney British Columbia CanadaDepartment of Earth, Ocean and Atmospheric Science University of British Columbia Vancouver British Columbia CanadaDepartment of Earth, Ocean and Atmospheric Science University of British Columbia Vancouver British Columbia CanadaInstitute of Ocean Sciences Fisheries and Oceans Canada Sidney British Columbia CanadaInstitute of Ocean Sciences Fisheries and Oceans Canada Sidney British Columbia CanadaAbstract The Strait of Georgia (SoG) is a large semienclosed estuary that spatially dominates the Salish Sea on the North American Pacific coast. The region is well populated, harbors significant aquaculture, and is vulnerable to climate change. We present the first inorganic carbon data collected in the SoG covering all seasons (2003 and 2010–2012) and put them into the context of local circulation and oxygen cycles. Results show that the SoG has a higher carbon content and lower pH than surrounding waters. Aragonite saturation horizons in the SoG do not become deeper than 20–30 m and shoal to the surface for extended periods. Furthermore, incoming upwelled “acidified” water from the outer coast actually increases local pH. Finally, intense mixing in the physically restricted channels connecting the SoG to the outer coast allows significant oxygen uptake but minimal CO2 out gassing, protecting the SoG from hypoxia but not from ocean acidification.https://doi.org/10.1002/2016GL068996ocean acidificationhypoxiaestuarine seasgas exchangetidal mixingriverine carbon
spellingShingle Debby Ianson
Susan E. Allen
Benjamin L. Moore‐Maley
Sophia C. Johannessen
and Robie W. Macdonald
Vulnerability of a semienclosed estuarine sea to ocean acidification in contrast with hypoxia
Geophysical Research Letters
ocean acidification
hypoxia
estuarine seas
gas exchange
tidal mixing
riverine carbon
title Vulnerability of a semienclosed estuarine sea to ocean acidification in contrast with hypoxia
title_full Vulnerability of a semienclosed estuarine sea to ocean acidification in contrast with hypoxia
title_fullStr Vulnerability of a semienclosed estuarine sea to ocean acidification in contrast with hypoxia
title_full_unstemmed Vulnerability of a semienclosed estuarine sea to ocean acidification in contrast with hypoxia
title_short Vulnerability of a semienclosed estuarine sea to ocean acidification in contrast with hypoxia
title_sort vulnerability of a semienclosed estuarine sea to ocean acidification in contrast with hypoxia
topic ocean acidification
hypoxia
estuarine seas
gas exchange
tidal mixing
riverine carbon
url https://doi.org/10.1002/2016GL068996
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AT sophiacjohannessen vulnerabilityofasemienclosedestuarineseatooceanacidificationincontrastwithhypoxia
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