The Effect of Breaking Waves on CO 2 Air–Sea Fluxes in the Coastal Zone

• Published in: Boundary-layer meteorology 2018-08, Vol.168 (2), p.343-360
• Main Authors: Gutiérrez-Loza, Lucía, Ocampo-Torres, Francisco J, García-Nava, Héctor
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Aerodynamics; Air; Air-sea flux; Biogeochemistry; Breaking waves; Carbon; Carbon dioxide; Carbon dioxide flux; Coastal zone; Coastal zones; Coasts; Covariance; Distribution functions; Eddy covariance; Fluctuations; Manganese; Parameters; Probability distribution; Probability distribution functions; Probability theory; Regression analysis; Significant wave height; Significant waves; Slope; Slopes; Statistical analysis; Surface waves; Turbulence; Velocity; Vortices; Water temperature; Wave height; Wave slope; Wind speed
• ISSN: 0006-8314; 1573-1472
• DOI: 10.1007/s10546-018-0342-x

The influence of wave-associated parameters controlling turbulent CO2 fluxes through the air–sea interface is investigated in a coastal region. A full year of high-quality data of direct estimates of air–sea CO2 fluxes based on eddy-covariance measurements is presented. The study area located in Todos Santos Bay, Baja California, Mexico, is a net sink of CO2 with a mean flux of -1.3μmolm-2s-1 (-41.6molm-2yr-1). The results of a quantile-regression analysis computed between the CO2 flux and, (1) wind speed, (2) significant wave height, (3) wave steepness, and (4) water temperature, suggest that the significant wave height is the most correlated parameter with the magnitude of the flux but the behaviour of the relation varies along the probability distribution function, with the slopes of the regression lines presenting both positive and negative values. These results imply that the presence of surface waves in coastal areas is the key factor that promotes the increase of the flux from and into the ocean. Further analysis suggests that the local characteristics of the aqueous and atmospheric layers might determine the direction of the flux.