CHANGES IN LONGITUDINAL DISTRIBUTION OF THE PARTIAL-PRESSURE OF CO2 (PCO(2)) IN THE CENTRAL AND WESTERN EQUATORIAL PACIFIC, WEST OF 160-DEGREES-W

We describe spatial and temporal variations in the partial pressure of carbon dioxide (pCO(2)) in the central and western equatorial Pacific on the basis of measurements conducted for the periods between 1987 a nd 1993. Surface water pCO(2) data indicate the significant difference s in longitudinal distribution depending on the ocean conditions. We e xamine the relationship between the area showing higher surface pCO(2) values and the El Nino/Southern Oscillation phenomenon by using the S outhern Oscillation Index. Results indicate that the area showing high er surface pCO(2) values correlates with the SOI, which suggests signi ficant intra- and interannual fluctuations of CO2 outflux from the cen tral and western equatorial Pacific.