Direct measurements reveal insignificant storage of anthropogenic CO2 in the abyssal Weddell Sea

In the northern Weddell Gyre at the prime meridian, Total TCO2 changes in t he Weddell Sea Bottom Water (WSBW) have been investigated. Following a sugg estion by [Poisson and Chen, 1987], the TCO2 difference at potential temper atures of 0.2 degreesC and -0.8 degreesC was determined using data from 199 6 and 1998. No significant difference was found to similar differences for the years 1973 and 1981 reported by Poisson and Chen. Thus, over a period o f 25 years an at most minor amount of anthropogenic CO2 has penetrated into the WSBW at this location. This suggests that this abyssal subpolar region is relatively unimportant for the storage of anthropogenic CO2. The same c ore of WSBW: exhibited a, marked increase of chlorofluorocarbon (CFC). For the Southern Ocean, therefore, CFCs are apparently of limited value as anal ogues of anthropogenic CO2, in contrast to some other ocean provinces.