Aquatic Sciences Meeting, Albuquerque 2001

CS01 Air-Water Interactions

Date: Wednesday, February 14, 2001, Time: 3:00:00 PM

Location: San Miguel

Popp, B, N, University of Hawaii, Honolulu, USA, popp@soest.hawaii.edu

Westley, M, B, University of Hawaii, Honolulu, USA, mwestley@soest.hawaii.edu

Rust, T, M, University of Hawaii, Honolulu, USA, trust@soest.hawaii.edu

Laws, E, A, University of Hawaii, Honolulu, USA, laws@soest.hawaii.edu

Graham, A, W, University of Hawaii, Honolulu, USA, andyg@soest.hawaii.edu

Sansone, F, J, University of Hawaii, Honolulu, USA, sansone@soest.hawaii.edu

EFFECT OF TROPICAL STORM CARLOTTA ON THE SEA-TO-AIR FLUX OF NITROUS OXIDE IN THE EASTERN TROPICAL NORTH PACIFIC

Nitrous oxide (N2O) concentration and isotopic compositions were measured along a transect in May-June 2000 from the central North Pacific gyre near Hawaii (16N, 150W) to the eastern tropical North Pacific (ETNP) near Mexico (15N, 98W). The section displayed gradients in the intensity of oxygen depletion and the depth of the oxygen minimum zone, as well as changes in the vertical separation of the thermocline, nitracline and oxygen minimum. The maximum concentration of N2O and the minimum in N2O isotopic compositions were found in shallow (less than 200 m) suboxic waters at stations east of 136W. The flux of N2O to the atmosphere increased to the east and was greatly enhanced by tropical storm Carlotta, which passed within 60 km of our position. We present the calculated sea-to-air flux of N2O along our transect, the effect of storm-induced mixing on the magnitude and isotopic compositions of the N2O flux, and a model describing the effects of tropical storms and hurricanes on air-sea exchange of N2O in the oxygen-poor waters of the ETNP.

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Aquatic Sciences Meeting, Albuquerque 2001

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