Enhanced CO2 uptake by planted sea forest counteracts ocean acidification in costal environments

Abstract

The diel and seasonal dynamics of carbonate chemistry associated with a sea forest were investigated in coastal waters of Korea using continuous measurements of seawater carbon parameters (i.e. partial pressure of CO2, total alkalinity, total dissolved inorganic carbon and pH) from January 2019 to April 2019. Analysis of carbonate data revealed that organic carbon production by the sea forest (photosynthesis) dominates over inorganic carbon production (calcification) in the study area. The changes in surface pCO2 associated with photosynthesis of the sea forest were comparable to a magnitude of the alteration due to temperature variation, indicating that net impacts of ocean acidification and global warming can be mitigated by organic matter production by the sea forest in the coastal marine ecosystem.