Greenhouse gas assemblages (CO2, CH4 and N2O) in the continental shelf of the Gulf of Cadiz (SW Iberian Peninsula)

This study examines the simultaneous water-atmosphere exchange of carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4) and nitrous oxide (N2O) on the continental shelf of the Gulf of Cadiz, as well as the effect it has in terms of the radiative balance in the atmosphere, between 2014 and 2016. The experimental database consists of new measurements of the spatial and seasonal distribution of CO2 partial pressure (pCO(2)) and N2O concentration in 2016. pCO(2) shows a wide range of variation influenced mainly by seasonal thermal variations (8.0 mu atm degrees C-1), as well as with the relative intensity of biological activity. There is experimental evidence of a progressive increase of pCO(2) over the last 2 decades, with an estimated gradient of 4.2 +/- 0.7 mu atm y (-1). During 2016, the Gulf of Cadiz acted as a slight source of CO2 to the atmosphere, with a mean flux of 0.4 +/- 2.2 mmol m(-2) d(-1). The analysis of concentration variations in the water column shows that nitrification is the main N2O production process in the study area, although in the more coastal zone there are signs of inputs related to continental and sediment contributions, most probably induced by denitrification processes. In 2016, the Gulf of Cadiz acted as a weak sink of atmospheric N2O, with a mean flux of 0.1 +/- 0.9 mu mol m(-2) d(-1). From previous studies, performed with a similar methodology, an interannual database (2014-2016) of water-atmosphere fluxes of CO2, CH4 and N2O, normalized to the mean wind speed in the area, has been generated. Considering their respective Global Warming Potential (GWP) a joint greenhouse gasses (GHG) flux, expressed in CO2 equivalents of 0.6 +/- 2.0 mmol m(-2) d(-1), has been estimated, which extended to the area of study indicates an approximate emission of 67.9 Gg CO2 y(-1). However, although there is a high uncertainty associated with the spatial, temporal and interannual variations of CO2, CH4 and N2O fluxes in the Gulf of Cadiz, the exchange of greenhouse gasses could be influencing a radiative forcing increase in the atmosphere. When considering the available information on local and global estimates, the uncertainty about the effect of the joint exchange of GHGs to the atmosphere from the coastal seas increases significantly.

Automated summary

This study examines the water-atmosphere exchange of CO2, CH4, and N2O in the Gulf of Cadiz and its impact on atmospheric radiative balance. It found a progressive increase in pCO(2) over the last two decades, with a mean flux of 0.4 +/- 2.2 mmol m(-2) d(-1) in 2016. Nitrification is the main process of N2O production in the study area, while inputs from continental and sediment contributions are observed in the coastal zone. The estimated greenhouse gas flux in CO2 equivalents is 0.6 +/- 2.0 mmol m(-2) d(-1), indicating an approximate emission of 67.9 Gg CO2 y(-1).