The ocean as a source for atmospheric carbon monoxide

Data obtained over the past three years on the amount of CO in the waters of the northern hemisphere provide a basis for estimating the contribution of the oceans to the atmospheric CO budget. Estimates of the ocean's contribution to the northern hemisphere CO budget approach the concentration of anthropogenic CO production, which is approximately 2 × 1014 grams CO per year. The gas exchange equation is used to calculate a transfer coefficient for CO in seawater. The equation is Q = E(pw − pA), where Q is the flux of gas, E is the gas transfer coefficient, and pw and pA are the partial pressures of the gases in water and air, respectively. E is calculated by measuring the flux of CO, which is related to the difference between the day and night vertical concentration profiles. As a first approximation, an upper limit on the amount contributed by the oceans during a 24 hour period can be estimated. E is calculated by the above method using 14 vertical profiles obtained over a 3-year period from widely separated locations. A value for E of 41 × 10−3 mg cm−2 min−1 atm−1 is obtained. An average calculated CO flux for the northern hemisphere is 9 × 1013 grams per year, or approximately 34% of man's input. Release of CO from the southern oceans in amounts comparable to those found in the northern oceans would increase the contribution of the world ocean to the global CO budget to a level approximately 85% of that due to man.