Mackenzie River Influence on Arctic Ocean Carbon Emissions: A Detailed Analysis
By Karmactive Staff
The Arctic Ocean is experiencing extreme CO2 release, mainly because of the runoff from Canada’s Mackenzie River, one of North America’s largest rivers.
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The Arctic Ocean absorbs 180 million metric tons of carbon per year, which makes it an important carbon sink with three times the emissions of New York City.
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A recent study has revealed that the Mackenzie River contributes significantly to carbon emissions in the Arctic Ocean due to the melting of ice and carbon release.
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Warmer temperatures have caused the Mackenzie River and its delta to thaw and melt more often, releasing sediment and dissolved carbon into the Beaufort Sea.
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According to recent study utilizing the ECCO-Darwin model, the southeast Beaufort Sea was previously thought to be a weak-to-moderate sink of carbon dioxide. This amount is similar to the emissions from 28,000 gasoline-powered automobiles yearly and represents a net release of 0.13 million metric tons annually.
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The study team evaluated freshwater outflow and components including carbon, nitrogen, and silica during a 20-year period (2000-2019) using the ECCO-Darwin model, which was created at NASA's Propulsion Laboratory and MIT.
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River discharge affects outgassing in the southeast Beaufort Sea. Seasonal variations in CO2 release are seen, with warmer seasons bringing larger river flows and reduced sea ice that keep the gas.
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Coastal waters are essential to the carbon cycle since they make up more than half of the Arctic Ocean's total area. The results of the study help to clarify more general environmental shifts in the Arctic.
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Since the 1970s, the Arctic has warmed three times faster than any other region on Earth, changing its ecosystems and waterways. The region's carbon balance may be impacted by these changes, which might either boost the release of carbon dioxide or absorption.