The annual and seasonal variability of the carbonate system in the Bay of Brest (Northwest Atlantic Shelf, 2008–2014)

Type Article
Date 2016-12
Language English
Author(s) Salt Lesley A.1, Beaumont L.2, Blain S.3, Bucciarelli E.4, 5, Grossteffan E.6, Guillot A.7, L'Helguen S.4, Merlivat L.8, Repecaud MichelORCID9, Quemener LoicORCID9, Rimmelin-Maury P.6, Treguer P.4, Bozec Y.1
Affiliation(s) 1 : UPMC Univ Paris 06, CNRS, Sorbonne Univ, Adaptat & Divers Milieu Marin AD2M UMR7144,Stn Bi, F-29680 Roscoff, France.
2 : Div Tech INSU CNRS, F-92195 Meudon, France.
3 : UPMC Univ Paris 06, Sorbonne Univ, CNRS, Lab Oceanog Microbienne LOMIC UMR 7621 LOMIC,Obse, F-66650 Banyuls Sur Mer, France.
4 : Univ Brest, CNRS, IRD, IUEM,UMR LEMAR 6539, Technopole Brest Iroise,Pl Nicolas Copernic, F-29280 Plouzane, France.
5 : Univ Europeenne Bretagne, Rennes, France.
6 : Inst Univ Europeen Mer, UMS CNRS UBO 3113, F-29280 Plouzane, France.
7 : Div Tech INSU CNRS, F-29280 Plouzane, France.
8 : Univ Paris 06, LOCEAN, UMR 7159, CNRS UPMC IRD MNHN, F-75252 Paris 05, France.
9 : IFREMER, Ctr Brest, REM RDT DCM, F-29280 Plouzane, France.
Source Marine Chemistry (0304-4203) (Elsevier Science Bv), 2016-12 , Vol. 187 , P. 1-15
DOI 10.1016/j.marchem.2016.09.003
WOS© Times Cited 8
Keyword(s) Bay of Brest, Carbonate system, Dissolved inorganic carbon, Total alkalinity
Abstract From 2008 to 2014, the MAREL-Iroise buoy, located in the Bay of Brest, collected high-frequency measurements of partial pressure of CO2 (pCO2) and ancillary hydrographic parameters, in conjunction with a comprehensive sampling regime of two additional carbonate system variables total alkalinity (AT), and dissolved inorganic carbon (DIC). Biological processes drive variations in AT and DIC throughout the year, except in winter, when primary production is negligible and large freshwater inputs occur. Annually, the Bay of Brest generally behaves as a source of CO2 to the atmosphere (0.14 ± 0.20 mol C m− 2 yr− 1), showing inter-annual variability significantly linked to annual net community production (NCP). The presence of a large community of benthic filter feeders leads to high levels of particulate organic matter (POM) and opal deposition during the spring diatom bloom. Over the following few months, benthic POM remineralisation reduces the spring CO2 deficit relative to the atmosphere, and remineralisation of biogenic silica supplies further late spring primary production. The result is an inverse spring NCP – air-sea CO2 flux relationship, whereby greater NCP in early spring results in lower fluxes of CO2 into the Bay in late spring. This recycling mechanism, or silicic acid pump, also links the spring and summer NCP values, which are both determined by the peak wintertime nutrient concentrations. The carbonate system is further affected by the benthic community in winter, when CaCO3 dissolution is evident from notable deviations in the ΔAT:ΔDIC ratio. This study highlights the necessity of individual study of coastal, temperate ecosystems and contributes to a better understanding of what determines coastal areas as sinks or sources of CO2 to the atmosphere.
Full Text
File Pages Size Access
Author's final draft 70 1 MB Open access
15 1 MB Access on demand
Top of the page

How to cite 

Salt Lesley A., Beaumont L., Blain S., Bucciarelli E., Grossteffan E., Guillot A., L'Helguen S., Merlivat L., Repecaud Michel, Quemener Loic, Rimmelin-Maury P., Treguer P., Bozec Y. (2016). The annual and seasonal variability of the carbonate system in the Bay of Brest (Northwest Atlantic Shelf, 2008–2014). Marine Chemistry, 187, 1-15. Publisher's official version : https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marchem.2016.09.003 , Open Access version : https://archimer.ifremer.fr/doc/00350/46157/