Each day the MV Pacific Celebes is at sea the crew collect a water sample which is stored on board and then sent back to NOC. At NOC the sample is analysed to measure the total alkalinity (TA) and the total amount of carbonate (DIC) compounds dissolved in the sample. From this data the pCO2 value of the water can be calculated.
This data is interesting in its own right as it provides information on the oceans capacity to absorb CO2. Initially we are using it to validate the performance of the underway measurements of pCO2. In April we completed a scientific paper on the performance of the system, this has been submitted to the scientific journal Deep Sea Research.
Image: Rebecca Garley working at NOC with the equipment that measures TA and DIC.
