Dynamics and drivers of the carbonate system: response to terrestrial runoff and upwelling along the Northeastern Colombian Caribbean coast

IntroductionThis study investigated the variability and main drivers of the carbonate system in Gayraca Bay and Chengue Bay, located on the northeastern Caribbean coast of Colombia, through monthly measurements of partial pressure of CO2 (pCO2), pH, total alkalinity (TA), and dissolved inorganic car...

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Main Authors: Constanza Ricaurte-Villota, Magnolia Murcia-Riaño, José Martín Hernádez-Ayón
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Frontiers Media S.A. 2025-01-01
Series:Frontiers in Marine Science
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Online Access:https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmars.2024.1305542/full
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author Constanza Ricaurte-Villota
Magnolia Murcia-Riaño
José Martín Hernádez-Ayón
author_facet Constanza Ricaurte-Villota
Magnolia Murcia-Riaño
José Martín Hernádez-Ayón
author_sort Constanza Ricaurte-Villota
collection DOAJ
description IntroductionThis study investigated the variability and main drivers of the carbonate system in Gayraca Bay and Chengue Bay, located on the northeastern Caribbean coast of Colombia, through monthly measurements of partial pressure of CO2 (pCO2), pH, total alkalinity (TA), and dissolved inorganic carbon (DIC) from 2017 to 2022. Statistical analyses and Taylor series decomposition were employed to determine the seasonal and interannual contributions of sea surface temperature, salinity, TA, and DIC to changes in pCO2, pH, and calcium carbonate saturation state (Ω).ResultsThe results showed significant seasonal variability influenced by annual changes in coastal upwelling, rainfall, and river runoff. Low/high pH and Ω values were associated with high/low DIC and TA values during the dry and wet seasons, respectively, while pCO2 exhibited an opposite pattern. During El Niño, negative anomalies in coastal upwelling produced negative anomalies in pCO2 and positive anomalies in Ω, DIC, and TA. Conversely, during La Niña, alternating periods of positive rainfall and upwelling anomalies were observed. Higher rainfall corresponded to negative anomalies in pCO2, DIC, and TA and positive anomalies in Ω, whereas stronger upwelling led to opposite trends. In early 2022, undersaturated levels of Ωcalc and Ωarag (<1) were observed, which could affect coral calcification and pose risks in future climate change scenarios. Taylor series decomposition analysis identified TA and DIC as primary drivers of carbonate system variability, modulated by seasonal and interannual changes in rainfall and river runoff, which are influenced by ENSO events. The observed trends in pH and pCO2 were driven by a decrease in DIC and TA, attributed to increased river runoff, contrasting with typical ocean acidification trends driven by rising atmospheric CO2 levels.DiscussionThis highlights the region's unique dynamics and underscores the importance of local studies. This study provides a novel 6-year time-series dataset for the carbonate system in the Colombian Caribbean, offering a valuable baseline for assessing the impacts of global warming and ocean acidification in the region.
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spelling doaj-art-3502466418424484ae0b409e078f8b632025-01-30T15:09:27ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Marine Science2296-77452025-01-011110.3389/fmars.2024.13055421305542Dynamics and drivers of the carbonate system: response to terrestrial runoff and upwelling along the Northeastern Colombian Caribbean coastConstanza Ricaurte-Villota0Magnolia Murcia-Riaño1José Martín Hernádez-Ayón2Marine and Coastal Geosciences Program, Marine and Coastal Research Institute “José Benito Vives de Andréis” (INVEMAR), Santa Marta, ColombiaMarine and Coastal Geosciences Program, Marine and Coastal Research Institute “José Benito Vives de Andréis” (INVEMAR), Santa Marta, ColombiaInstituto de Investigaciones Oceanológicas, Universidad Autónoma de Baja California, Ensenada, MexicoIntroductionThis study investigated the variability and main drivers of the carbonate system in Gayraca Bay and Chengue Bay, located on the northeastern Caribbean coast of Colombia, through monthly measurements of partial pressure of CO2 (pCO2), pH, total alkalinity (TA), and dissolved inorganic carbon (DIC) from 2017 to 2022. Statistical analyses and Taylor series decomposition were employed to determine the seasonal and interannual contributions of sea surface temperature, salinity, TA, and DIC to changes in pCO2, pH, and calcium carbonate saturation state (Ω).ResultsThe results showed significant seasonal variability influenced by annual changes in coastal upwelling, rainfall, and river runoff. Low/high pH and Ω values were associated with high/low DIC and TA values during the dry and wet seasons, respectively, while pCO2 exhibited an opposite pattern. During El Niño, negative anomalies in coastal upwelling produced negative anomalies in pCO2 and positive anomalies in Ω, DIC, and TA. Conversely, during La Niña, alternating periods of positive rainfall and upwelling anomalies were observed. Higher rainfall corresponded to negative anomalies in pCO2, DIC, and TA and positive anomalies in Ω, whereas stronger upwelling led to opposite trends. In early 2022, undersaturated levels of Ωcalc and Ωarag (<1) were observed, which could affect coral calcification and pose risks in future climate change scenarios. Taylor series decomposition analysis identified TA and DIC as primary drivers of carbonate system variability, modulated by seasonal and interannual changes in rainfall and river runoff, which are influenced by ENSO events. The observed trends in pH and pCO2 were driven by a decrease in DIC and TA, attributed to increased river runoff, contrasting with typical ocean acidification trends driven by rising atmospheric CO2 levels.DiscussionThis highlights the region's unique dynamics and underscores the importance of local studies. This study provides a novel 6-year time-series dataset for the carbonate system in the Colombian Caribbean, offering a valuable baseline for assessing the impacts of global warming and ocean acidification in the region.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmars.2024.1305542/fullocean acidificationupwellingtropical oceanscoral reef areasCaribbean surface watersubtropical subsurface water
spellingShingle Constanza Ricaurte-Villota
Magnolia Murcia-Riaño
José Martín Hernádez-Ayón
Dynamics and drivers of the carbonate system: response to terrestrial runoff and upwelling along the Northeastern Colombian Caribbean coast
Frontiers in Marine Science
ocean acidification
upwelling
tropical oceans
coral reef areas
Caribbean surface water
subtropical subsurface water
title Dynamics and drivers of the carbonate system: response to terrestrial runoff and upwelling along the Northeastern Colombian Caribbean coast
title_full Dynamics and drivers of the carbonate system: response to terrestrial runoff and upwelling along the Northeastern Colombian Caribbean coast
title_fullStr Dynamics and drivers of the carbonate system: response to terrestrial runoff and upwelling along the Northeastern Colombian Caribbean coast
title_full_unstemmed Dynamics and drivers of the carbonate system: response to terrestrial runoff and upwelling along the Northeastern Colombian Caribbean coast
title_short Dynamics and drivers of the carbonate system: response to terrestrial runoff and upwelling along the Northeastern Colombian Caribbean coast
title_sort dynamics and drivers of the carbonate system response to terrestrial runoff and upwelling along the northeastern colombian caribbean coast
topic ocean acidification
upwelling
tropical oceans
coral reef areas
Caribbean surface water
subtropical subsurface water
url https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmars.2024.1305542/full
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AT josemartinhernadezayon dynamicsanddriversofthecarbonatesystemresponsetoterrestrialrunoffandupwellingalongthenortheasterncolombiancaribbeancoast