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The carbon cycle of the seasonally ice covered region of the southwest Indian Ocean sector of East Antarctica (30°–80°E, 60°–69°S) was investigated during austral summer (January–March 2006). Large variability in the drivers and timing of carbon cycling dynamics were observed and indicated that the study site was a weak net source of carbon dioxide (CO₂) to the atmosphere of 0.8 ± 1.6 g C m⁻² during the ice-free period, with narrow bands of CO₂ uptake observed near the continental margin and north of the Southern Antarctic Circumpolar Current Front. Continuous surface measurements of dissolved oxygen and the fugacity of CO₂ were combined with net community production estimates from oxygen/argon ratios to show that surface heat gain and photosynthesis were responsible for the majority of observed surface water variability. On seasonal timescales, winter sea-ice cover reduced the flux of CO₂ to the atmosphere in the study area, followed by biologically driven drawdown of CO₂ as the ice retreated in spring-summer highlighting the important role that sea-ice formation and retreat has on the biogeochemical cycling of the region.

Item Type:	Refereed Article
Keywords:	CO2, sea ice, oceanography
Research Division:	Physical Sciences
Research Group:	Other Physical Sciences
Research Field:	Physical Sciences not elsewhere classified
Objective Division:	Environment
Objective Group:	Flora, Fauna and Biodiversity
Objective Field:	Antarctic and Sub-Antarctic Flora, Fauna and Biodiversity
Author:	Roden, NP (Mr Nick Roden)
Author:	Tilbrook, B (Dr Bronte Tilbrook)
Author:	Trull, TW (Professor Thomas Trull)
Author:	Virtue, P (Associate Professor Patti Virtue)
Author:	Williams, GD (Dr Guy Williams)
ID Code:	114402
Year Published:	2016
Deposited By:	Centre for Ecology and Biodiversity
Deposited On:	2017-02-15
Last Modified:	2017-03-27
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