Evaluating Changes of the Anthropogenic Carbon Inventory in the Northwestern Pacific using 13C

Senior thesis written for Oceanography 445

[author abstract] Carbon dioxide concentrations in both the atmosphere and ocean have been increasing recently due to the burning of fossil fuels. In order to predict and understand future climate the inventory of carbon dioxide from fossil fuels needs to be assessed. The isotopic composition of carbon from fossil fuels is distinct from that of carbon found in the ocean, and is therefore useful as a tracer of anthropogenic carbon. Two sets of carbon isotope data are available along a latitudinal transect of the Northwestern Pacific from the years 1994 and 2005. Using an equation to predict the carbon isotopic composition from one data set to the other, we can calculate the change in carbon isotopes. The carbon isotope changes can then be calculated into changes in anthropogenic carbon inventory in the study area.

University of Washington School of Oceanography