Dynamics of the Carbon Dioxide System on the Great Bahama Bank

Carbon dioxide is lost from the ocean by calcium carbonate precipitation (−p), photosynthesis (−b) and gas evasion at the sea surface (−g). Among the most active sites are warm shallow seas. In this paper seasonal studies on the Great Bahama Bank relate these processes in an equation which takes into account the indirect effects of advection (a), evaporation (e), and eddy diffusion (d), i.e.,

d∑CO₂/dt = −p −g −b + a − d + e

Calcium carbonate precipitation is very seasonal and accounts for about half of the total losses. The d∑CO₂/dCa ratio is always about 1.87 on the bank. A high summer carbonate loss is inversely correlated with summer increases of chlorinity and temperature suggesting that CaCO₃ is precipitated inorganically or biogenic production of CaCO₃ is regulated by these parameters or both.