Methane and hydrogen in seawater (Atlantic Ocean)
- 標題
- Methane and hydrogen in seawater (Atlantic Ocean)
- 作者
- Ralf Conrad, Wolfgang Seiler
- 文件屬性
- 國外期刊
- 知識分類
- 基礎研究
- 出版年
- 1988
- 刊名
- Deep Sea Research Part A. Oceanographic Research Papers
- 點閱數
- 2516
摘要
Measurements of dissolved methane and hydrogen from the Atlantic Ocean, between 50°N and 35°S, showed the surface water to be supersaturated, while the deep ocean water was in equilibrium or slightly undersaturated with respect to atmospheric CH4 and H2. Dissolved H2 was highest in surface water and decreased within the upper 100 m of the water column, whereas dissolved CH4 remained high within the entire euphotic water layer. There is evience for a diurnal variation of dissolved H2, with higher amplitudes at the water surface compared to 20m depth. Dissolved CH4 at 4 m depth also was measured using a continuously working equilibration technique which procided information on short-term fluctuations. The dissolved CH4 showed no diurnal variations and was independent of wind speed. Highest CH4 concentrations were observed in areas with high nutrient input, e.g. in the upwelling areas off West Africa, and correlated well with the observed chorophyll a concentrations. Based on an average CH4 saturation factor of about 1.1, the total source strength for atmospheric CH4 is calculated to about 1.5 Tg y−1.