Draft guidelines for sampling and determination of total alkalinity.

Abstract

Although not listed among HELCOM Core Indicators, total alkalinity should be monitored to provide information of alterations in the carbonate buffer system, which may be induced by changing weathering processes on the continents or internal processes in the Baltic Sea. Although alkalinity is not affected by increasing atmospheric CO2, it controls the pH at a given atmospheric CO2 level. Hence its long-term changes are interacting with ocean acidification induced by the dissolution of anthropogenic CO2. 1.2 Purpose and aims The aim of monitoring is to identify spatial variations and temporal trends in total alkalinity.