Cited by 226Ocean Acidification Effects and ResponsesMarine and coastal ecosystemsCalcium Carbonate Crystallization and Inhibition

Climatological distribution of aragonite saturation state in the global oceans

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Jiang, Li‐Qing, Feely, Richard A., Carter, Brendan R., Greeley, Dana J., Gledhill, Dwight K., Arzayus, Krisa M.·2015·Global Biogeochemical Cycles

Abstract

Aragonite saturation state (Ω arag ) in surface and subsurface waters of the global oceans was calculated from up‐to‐date (through the year of 2012) ocean station dissolved inorganic carbon (DIC) and total alkalinity (TA) data. Surface Ω arag in the open ocean was always supersaturated (Ω > 1), ranging between 1.1 and 4.2. It was above 2.0 (2.0–4.2) between 40°N and 40°S but decreased toward higher latitude to below 1.5 in polar areas. The influences of water temperature on the TA/DIC ratio, combined with the temperature effects on inorganic carbon equilibrium and apparent solubility product ( K ′ sp ), explain the latitudinal differences in surface Ω arag . Vertically, Ω arag was highest in the surface mixed layer. Higher hydrostatic pressure, lower water temperature, and more CO 2 buildup from biological activity in the absence of air‐sea gas exchange helped maintain lower Ω arag in the deep ocean. Below the thermocline, aerobic decomposition of organic matter along the pathway of global thermohaline circulation played an important role in controlling Ω arag distributions. Seasonally, surface Ω arag above 30° latitudes was about 0.06 to 0.55 higher during warmer months than during colder months in the open‐ocean waters of both hemispheres. Decadal changes of Ω arag in the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans showed that Ω arag in waters shallower than 100 m depth decreased by 0.10 ± 0.09 (−0.40 ± 0.37% yr −1 ) on average from the decade spanning 1989–1998 to the decade spanning 1998–2010.

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  • A recent estimate sets the current Ωarag at about 2.8, approximately 81% of the preindustrial value.

    “A recent estimate sets the current Ωarag at ~2.8 (71) (see the Supplementary Materials), approximately 81% of the preindustrial value.”

    From Earth beyond six of nine planetary boundaries (2023) · cites this paper as [71]

    The Methods and section 3.1 report a global surface Ωarag estimate referenced to 2000, but its area-weighted value is 3.03, not ~2.8. The Introduction says saturation states had fallen to ~84% of preindustrial values by 2000; it does not give the claimed current estimate of 81%. (LLM, conf=0.85)

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  1. [17]17. Feely, R. A., C. L. Sabine, R. H. Byrne, and D. Greeley (2006), Direct evidence for ocean acidification of the North Pacific Ocean EOS Trans. AGU, 87(52), Fall Meeting Supplement, Abstract OS12B-04.
  2. [27]27. Hill, A. E., B. M. Hickey, F. A. Shillington, P. T. Strub, K. H. Brink, E. D. Barton, and A. C. Thomas (1998), Eastern boundary currents: A pan-regional review, in The Sea, vol. 11, edited by A. R. Robinson and K. H. Brink, pp. 29-68, John Wiley, New York.
  3. [59]59. Zeebe, R. E., and D. Wolf-Gladrow (Eds.) (2001), CO 2 in Seawater: Equilibrium, Kinetics, Isotopes, Oceanogr. Ser., vol. 65, pp. 346, Elsevier, Amsterdam. Global Biogeochemical Cycles 10.1002/

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Authors
Jiang, L., Feely, R. A., Carter, B. R., Greeley, D. J., Gledhill, D. K., & Arzayus, K. M.
Affiliations
  • Earth System Science Interdisciplinary Center (US)
  • National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (US)
  • University of Washington (US)
Corresponding author
Jiang, Li‐Qing
Venue
Global Biogeochemical Cycles
Published
2015-10
Volume
29
Issue
10
Pages
1656-1673
ISSN
  • 0886-6236 (ISSN-L)
  • 1944-9224
OpenAlex
W1948126634
Cited by
226
References
57
Citations by year
2026: 19 · 2025: 17 · 2024: 26 · 2023: 36 · 2022: 15 · 2021: 30 · 2020: 28 · 2019: 26 · 2018: 13 · 2017: 6 · 2016: 10
FWCI
8.04
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Global Biogeochemical Cycles (publishedVersion)
  • Institutional Archive of Ifremer (French Research Institute for Exploitation of the Sea) (submittedVersion, public-domain)
  • NOAA Institutional Repository (submittedVersion)
Funders
  • National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)'s
  • Climate Observations Division of NOAA's Climate Program Office
  • NOAA's Pacific Marine Environmental Laboratory (4278)
  • Global Ocean Acidification Observing Network (0001)
Topics
  • Physical Sciences › Earth and Planetary Sciences › Oceanography › Ocean Acidification Effects and Responses
  • Physical Sciences › Earth and Planetary Sciences › Oceanography › Marine and coastal ecosystems
  • Physical Sciences › Materials Science › Biomaterials › Calcium Carbonate Crystallization and Inhibition
Keywords
aragonite saturation state, seawater carbonate chemistry, dissolved inorganic carbon, total alkalinity, latitudinal distribution, seasonal variation, deep ocean, thermohaline circulation, organic matter decomposition, decadal variability, ocean acidification, solubility product, mixed layer

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