Time-series measurements of atmospheric and oceanic CO2 and O2 in the Western Gulf of Maine

A collaboration has been established between the University of New Hampshire´s (UNH) Joint Center for Ocean Observing Technology and NOAA´s Pacific Marine Environmental Laboratory (PMEL) to adapt and deploy an autonomous carbon dioxide measurement system on a moored platform in the coastal Western Gulf of Maine. This buoy provides high-resolution timeseries measurements of atmospheric and oceanic CO₂ values and is useful for the estimation of air-sea CO₂ fluxes and monitoring coastal zone biochemistry dynamics. In addition, with its close location to the coast, it allows study of terrestrial air mass effects on marine air-sea CO₂ exchange. This paper provides details on the overall system including field validation of buoy observations. This validation includes data from a nearby UNH AIRMAP atmospheric observing station on Appledore Island and a monthly shipboard cruise transect made by the UNH Center for Coastal Ocean Observing. These assets permit evaluation of dissolved oxygen and both air and water CO₂ levels.