Installation of autonomous underway pCO2 instruments onboard ships of opportunity.

Abstract

The oceans are the largest sustained sink of anthropogenic carbon with a flux into the ocean of about 2.4 1015 grams, or 2.4 gigatons, of carbon annually, thereby partially mitigating the rapid increase of this climate-forcing gas into the atmosphere. To provide meaningful projections of future atmospheric CO2 levels and surface oceanic CO2 concentrations, we must constrain the flux of CO2 across the air-water interface. An important component of this effort is to obtain more systematic observations of CO2 in the ocean by installing autonomous systems—underway pCO2 analyzers—on ships of opportunity. The purpose of this technical report is to provide the necessary information required to perform such an installation. The information it contains pertains specifically to the installation of the system built by General Oceanics, Inc. in Miami, Florida. However, most of the instructions and issues discussed should apply to any type of autonomous system.