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 CO
₂
values and is useful for the estimation of air-sea CO
₂
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 CO
₂
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 CO
₂
levels.