Surface pH Of The Northeastern Pacific Ocean

A latitudinal, differential pH distribution is observed in the Northeastern Pacific Ocean with a pH range of 8.15 at high latitude (42 N) to 8.29 at low latitude (23 N). These pH values are generally greater than the calculated equilibrium pH with respect to atmospheric carbon dioxide. If we assume that the calculated equilibrium pH values ae valid, then the surface waters are undersaturated with respect to the atmospheric carbon dioxide during April to June 1966. A high surface pH value of about 8.26 was observed immediately south of the SubarcticBoundary zone near 170 W. This value differs from the equilibration pH by as much as 0.1 unit.