Significant methane undersaturation during austral summer in the Ross Sea (Southern Ocean)

• DOI: 10.1002/lol2.10315
• Publication Date: 2023-02-09T10:38:42Z
• Authors: Wangwang Ye; Damian L. Arévalo...; Yuhong Li; Jianwen Wen; Hailun He; Jiexia Zhang; Jian Liu; Man Wu; Liyang Zhan
• Keywords: Sink (geography); Mixed layer; Trace gas

Abstract Methane (CH 4 ) is a climate‐relevant trace gas that emitted from the open and coastal oceans in considerable amounts. However, its distribution remote oceanic areas largely unknown. To fill this knowledge gap, dissolved CH was measured at nine stations 75°S Ross Sea during austral summer January 2020. undersaturation (mean: 82 ± 20%) found throughout water column. In subsurface waters, of mainly resulted mixing masses situ consumption, whereas concentrations surface mixed layer were driven by air–sea exchange diapycnal diffusion between layers, as well consumption . With mean flux density −0.44 0.34 μ mol m −2 d −1 , substantial sink for atmospheric summer, which contrast with most regions, are known sources.