WATER COLUMN INVENTORIES OF CHLOROFLUOROCARBONS AND PRODUCTION-RATE OF INTERMEDIATE WATER IN THE NORTH PACIFIC

A cross-section of chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) in the North Pacific was obtained along 30 degrees N in 1994. Distributions of water column in ventories of CFCs in the North Pacific were estimated by interpolating observed concentrations of CFCs to all the North Pacific based on sal inity and water temperature. Total amounts of CFC-11 and CFC-12 in the North Pacific were estimated to be 7.92+/-1.17 (x 10(7) moles) and 4. 55+/-0.73 (x 10(7) moles), respectively. By introducing the CFCs data into a four-box model for the North Pacific, relations between an exch ange coefficient of CFC and a production rate of intermediate water in the North Pacific were estimated. The production rate of intermediate water was calculated to be 24+/-4 Sv by assuming the exchange coeffic ient of CFC to be large enough due to the surface concentration of CFC to be saturated rapidly. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science Ltd.