Aragonite undersaturation in Jinhae Bay, South Korea

Abstract

Aragonite saturation states were estimated for the surface and bottom waters of Jinhae Bay over four seasons to assess the major factors controlling the aragonite saturation states. The surface and bottom waters of Jinhae Bay were highly supersaturated with respect to aragonite in spring, autumn, and winter. In summer, however, most of the bottom waters are undersaturated with respect to aragonite during summer, even though the surface waters are supersaturated with respect to aragonite. This phenomenon can be explained by the phytoplankton-carbonate saturation state interaction high primary production increases the aragonite saturation states in surface waters, while vertical export and subsequent remineralization of organic matter decreases the aragonite saturation states in subsurface waters. The strong linear correlation between the aragonite saturation states and dissolved oxygen concentrations supports that the biological activity is a major factor controlling the aragonite saturation states in Jinhae Bay. In Jinhae Bay, the undersaturation with respect to aragonite in summer may have large impacts on the calcifying benthic organisms mussel calcification may be no longer occurred, and oyster calcification rate is probably reduced by 50% during summer.persaturated with respect to aragonite in spring, autumn, and winter. In summer, however, most of the bottom waters are undersaturated with respect to aragonite during summer, even though the surface waters are supersaturated with respect to aragonite. This phenomenon can be explained by the phytoplankton-carbonate saturation state interaction high primary production increases the aragonite saturation states in surface waters, while vertical export and subsequent remineralization of organic matter decreases the aragonite saturation states in subsurface waters. The strong linear correlation between the aragonite saturation states and dissolved oxygen concentrations supports that the biological activity is a major factor controlling the aragonite saturation states in Jinhae Bay. In Jinhae Bay, the undersaturation with respect to aragonite in summer may have large impacts on the calcifying benthic organisms mussel calcification may be no longer occurred, and oyster calcification rate is probably reduced by 50% during summer.