Preprints
https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2024-3273
https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2024-3273
23 Oct 2024
 | 23 Oct 2024
Status: this preprint is open for discussion.

Marine carbon dynamics in a coral reef ecosystem of Southern Taiwan

Pei-Jie Meng, Chia-Ming Chang, Wen-Chen Chou, Hung-Yen Hsieh, Anderson B. Mayfield, and Chung-Chi Chen

Abstract. The ocean is the planet’s largest carbon reservoir and plays a crucial role in regulating atmospheric CO2 levels, especially in the face of climate change. In coral reef ecosystems, understanding the carbonate system is critical for predicting and mitigating the impact of ocean acidification on these vulnerable marine ecosystems, especially as atmospheric CO2 concentrations continue to rise. This study measured pCO2 over space and time in Nanwan Bay, a coral reef ecosystem in southern Taiwan, to identify factors that influence its variation. The results showed that mean surface water pCO2 values varied seasonally, with values of 393.7 (±10.8), 406.3 (±16.1), 399.2 (±18.6), and 366.9 (±14.5) μatm in spring, summer, fall, and winter, respectively. These seasonal mean differences (ΔpCO2) relative to atmospheric pCO2 were 7.7 (±10.8), 29.3 (±16.1), 21.2 (±18.6), and -16.1 (±14.5) µatm, respectively. These findings suggest that the Nanwan Bay is a highly dynamic coral reef ecosystem, exhibiting both spatial and seasonal variability in carbon exchange. The carbonate system parameters of the surface water in this high-biodiversity, sub-tropical marine ecosystem was influenced not only by seasonal temperature variation but also by vertical mixing, intermittent upwelling, and biological effects.

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Pei-Jie Meng, Chia-Ming Chang, Wen-Chen Chou, Hung-Yen Hsieh, Anderson B. Mayfield, and Chung-Chi Chen

Status: open (until 26 Dec 2024)

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  • RC1: 'Comment on egusphere-2024-3273', Anonymous Referee #1, 20 Nov 2024 reply
Pei-Jie Meng, Chia-Ming Chang, Wen-Chen Chou, Hung-Yen Hsieh, Anderson B. Mayfield, and Chung-Chi Chen
Pei-Jie Meng, Chia-Ming Chang, Wen-Chen Chou, Hung-Yen Hsieh, Anderson B. Mayfield, and Chung-Chi Chen

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Short summary
This study measured pCO2 in Nanwan Bay, a coral reef ecosystem in Southern Taiwan, to identify the factors driving its variability. The results indicate that Nanwan Bay is a highly dynamic ecosystem, with notable spatial and seasonal changes in carbon exchange. Surface water carbon parameters in this biodiverse subtropical marine environment are influenced not only by seasonal temperature fluctuations but also by vertical mixing, intermittent upwelling, and biological processes.