Measurements of salinity and volume of brine excluded from growing sea ice

Wakatsuchi, Masaaki; Ono, Nobuyuki

doi:10.1029/jc088ic05p02943

Cited by 78 publications

(82 citation statements)

References 6 publications

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“…When sea ice is formed, a flux of ions is released into the ocean as sea ice is mostly composed of fresh water (Wakatsuchi and Ono, 1983;Rysgaard et al, 2007Rysgaard et al, , 2009). Because the underlying water is then enriched in salt it becomes denser and can thus sink and transport salt to deeper waters.…”

Section: Implementation Of Brines In the Climber-2 Modelmentioning

confidence: 99%

Impact of brine-induced stratification on the glacial carbon cycle

2010

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Abstract. During the cold period of the Last Glacial Maximum (LGM, about 21 000 years ago) atmospheric CO 2 was around 190 ppm, much lower than the pre-industrial concentration of 280 ppm. The causes of this substantial drop remain partially unresolved, despite intense research. Understanding the origin of reduced atmospheric CO 2 during glacial times is crucial to comprehend the evolution of the different carbon reservoirs within the Earth system (atmosphere, terrestrial biosphere and ocean). In this context, the ocean is believed to play a major role as it can store large amounts of carbon, especially in the abyss, which is a carbon reservoir that is thought to have expanded during glacial times. To create this larger reservoir, one possible mechanism is to produce very dense glacial waters, thereby stratifying the deep ocean and reducing the carbon exchange between the deep and upper ocean. The existence of such very dense waters has been inferred in the LGM deep Atlantic from sediment pore water salinity and δ 18 O inferred temperature. Based on these observations, we study the impact of a brine mechanism on the glacial carbon cycle. This mechanism relies on the formation and rapid sinking of brines, very salty water released during sea ice formation, which brings salty dense water down to the bottom of the ocean. It provides two major features: a direct link from the surface to the deep ocean along with an efficient way of setting a strong stratification. We show with the CLIMBER-2 carbon-climate model that such a brine mechanism can account for a significant decrease in atmospheric CO 2 and contribute to the glacial-interglacial change. This mechanism can be amplified by low vertical diffusion resulting from the brine-induced stratification. The modeled glacial disCorrespondence to: N. Bouttes (nathaelle.bouttes@lsce.ipsl.fr) tribution of oceanic δ 13 C as well as the deep ocean salinity are substantially improved and better agree with reconstructions from sediment cores, suggesting that such a mechanism could have played an important role during glacial times.

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Section: Implementation Of Brines In the Climber-2 Modelmentioning

confidence: 99%

Impact of brine-induced stratification on the glacial carbon cycle

2010

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“…[11] In the laboratory, 50 liters of artificial seawater [Lyman and Flemming, 1940] adjusted to a salinity of 33.3, TCO 2 concentration of 2007 mmol kg À1 and TA concentration of 2075 mmol kg À1 was placed in a gas-tight insulated container and frozen from above in a temperaturecontrolled setup [Wakatsuchi and Ono, 1983]. Ten mL of 5% (w/v) HgCl 2 was added to prevent biological activity.…”

Section: Measurements On Artificial Sea Icementioning

confidence: 99%

Inorganic carbon transport during sea ice growth and decay: A carbon pump in polar seas

Rysgaard

Glud

Sejr³

et al. 2007

J. Geophys. Res.

224

353

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[1] During sea ice formation in polar areas, brine rejection increases the density in the underlying water column and thereby contributes to the formation of deep and intermediate water masses in the world ocean. Here we present evidence that dissolved inorganic carbon (TCO 2 ) is rejected together with brine from growing sea ice and that low temperatures may result in a significant change in the ratio of TCO 2 and alkalinity in Arctic sea ice compared with surface waters. Model calculations show that this sea ice-driven carbon pump affects surface water partial pressure of CO 2 significantly in polar seas and potentially sequesters large amounts of CO 2 to the deep ocean.Citation: Rysgaard, S., R. N. Glud, M. K. Sejr, J. Bendtsen, and P. B. Christensen (2007), Inorganic carbon transport during sea ice growth and decay: A carbon pump in polar seas,

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“…The only direct measurements of brine fluxes from sea ice are those of Wakatsuchi (1977) and Wakatsuchi and Ono (1983). Wakatsuchi (1977) used a schlieren optical system and estimated volume fluxes by analysis of motion pictures.…”

Section: Flux Estimates and Measurementsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…This work showed a slight increase in volume flux with growth rate and reported volume fluxes ranging between 3.18 _+ 0.67 × 10 -5 and 3.74 +_ 0.38 × 10 -5 cc cm-2 s-1. Wakatsuchi and Ono (1983) collected brine streamers excluded by growing sea ice using a funnel attached to a rubber balloon. They showed an increase in the salinity and a decrease in the volume flux as the growth rate of sea ice decreased.…”

Section: Flux Estimates and Measurementsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Fluxes associated with brine motion in growing sea ice

Reeburgh

1984

Polar Biol

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Summary. Laboratory and field studies have demonstrated that fluid motion occurs at two locations in growing sea ice: in a network of brine channels and within the skeletal layer at the ice-water interface. Brine channel fluxes estimated using brine channel areal density from natural sea ice and channel velocities from laboratory studies are compared with recent measurements reported in the literature. Fluxes into the porous skeletal layer of sea ice may be estimated using rates of nutrient uptake by ice algae and adjacent seawater nutrient concentrations. Both approaches indicate fluxes of the order of 10 -6 cc cm -2 s -1 (1 m -2 h-l), which are about equal to fluxes reported in bioirrigated sediments. Fluxes of this magnitude indicate a very short residence time for the liquid phase in the skeletal layer, suggesting that this fluid motion may be important in maintaining the ice algae community.

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Measurements of salinity and volume of brine excluded from growing sea ice

Cited by 78 publications

References 6 publications

Impact of brine-induced stratification on the glacial carbon cycle

Impact of brine-induced stratification on the glacial carbon cycle

Inorganic carbon transport during sea ice growth and decay: A carbon pump in polar seas

Fluxes associated with brine motion in growing sea ice

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