Ocean acidification in Korenan bays

Abstract

Aragonite saturation states were estimated for the surface and bottom waters of Jinhae and Gwangyang bays over four seasons to assess the major factors controlling the aragonite saturation states. The surface and bottom waters of Jinhae Bay are 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. The bottom waters are undersaturated with respect to aragonite at the hypoxic condition. The strong linear correlation between the aragonite saturation states and dissolved oxygen concentrations indicates that the dissolved oxygen is a major factor controlling the aragonite saturation states in Jinhae Bay. In Gwangyang Bay, the surface and bottom waters are also supersaturated with respect to aragonite in spring, autumn, and winter. However, some of the surface and bottom waters are undersaturated with respect to aragonite during summer. In summer, aragonite saturation state values are well correlated with salinity at the surface and bottom waters, suggesting that they are significantly influenced by river runoff. In Gwangyang Bay, the aragonite undersaturation during summer is a result of the corrosive freshwater input. are 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. The bottom waters are undersaturated with respect to aragonite at the hypoxic condition. The strong linear correlation between the aragonite saturation states and dissolved oxygen concentrations indicates that the dissolved oxygen is a major factor controlling the aragonite saturation states in Jinhae Bay. In Gwangyang Bay, the surface and bottom waters are also supersaturated with respect to aragonite in spring, autumn, and winter. However, some of the surface and bottom waters are undersaturated with respect to aragonite during summer. In summer, aragonite saturation state values are well correlated with salinity at the surface and bottom waters, suggesting that they are significantly influenced by river runoff. In Gwangyang Bay, the aragonite undersaturation during summer is a result of the corrosive freshwater input.