Source and scope of the Data

This package documents carbonate data derived from samples that were obtained from the Weddell Sea in the late austral winter of 1981 as part of the US-USSR Weddell Polynya Expedition (WEPOLEX-81) aboard the Soviet icebreaker SOMOV. The expedition began on October 9, 1981 and ended on November 25, 1981. Carbonate data are provided from both surface samples taken along the cruise track and from samples taken at vertical stations.

Data from twenty-four vertical stations located in the eastern Weddell Sea include concurrent pH, calcium, total alkalinity, sample depth, water temperature, and salinity. The surface sample data include water temperature, salinity, pH, and total alkalinity. In addition, air and seawater partial pressure CO₂ (pCO₂) samples were collected on SOMOV, and measured by T. Takahashi at Lamont-Doherty Geological Observatory. The pCO₂ estimates from the surface waters ranged from 307 to 340 microatmospheres (Takahashi and Chipman, 1982). Table 1 provides a summary of the data for both the surface sampling and vertical stations.

Underway surface samples were collected with a bucket. Vertical samples were collected with a twelve-bottle 1.7-liter Rosette sampler. Temperature was measured immediately with a mercury thermometer and salinity was measured with a Guildline Salinometer, usually within 24 hours. The pH samples were all determined at 25 ± 0.02°C with a Radiometer TTT61 Digital Titrator. Calcium determinations were made at Oregon State University from stored calcium samples using the method of Tsunogai et al., (1968) and Olson and Chen (1981).

Greater details about the precision and calibration of the experimental techniques, as well as the findings resulting from the Weddell Sea data are discussed in the pertinent literature available by requesting the published printed version of this package.