The Processes Contributing To The Vertical Distribution Of Apparent pH In The Northeastern Pacific Ocean

Two major processes that affect the vertical distribution of apparent pH in the Subarctic region of the Northeastern Pacific Ocean are (1) apparent oxygen utilization by marine organisms and (2) carbonate dissolution. Simplified mathematical approximations show that, in the pH ravge of 7.2 to 8.3, the utilization of 0.1 mM of oxygen (2.24 ml/liter) lowers the pH by 0.20 units and 0.1 mM of carbonate dissolution increases the pH by 0.25 units. Since Oxygen utilization exceeds 0.3 mM while the carbonate dissolution, with respect to the surface, is about 0.05mM, the effect of oxygen utilization is much greater than the dissolution effect of carbonate on the pH of seawater.