Decadal time evolution of oceanic uptake of anthropogenic carbon in the Okhotsk Sea

Abstract

Comparing the data sets of chemical transient tracers (trichlorofluoromethane (CFC-11), dichlorodifluoromethane (CFC-12), sulfur hexafluoride (SF6)) among three reobservations from 1993 to 2006 in the Okhotsk Sea, we found the remarkable change in the efficiency of oceanic absorption of anthropogenic carbon (EF) based on the observed change of apparent tracer age. EF above 27.0 σθ increased by 16 % while EF below 27.0 σθ declined by 27 % during the period from 1993 to 2006. Consequently, EF in the entire water column decreased by 14 %. We concluded that the recent reinforcement of ocean stratification derived from the ocean warming caused the weakening of water ventilation in this region, indicating that the penetration of atmospheric anthropogenic carbon to the deep ocean interior is becoming difficult. © 2013. American Geophysical Union. All Rights Reserved.