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Overview of NOPACCS (Northwest Pacific Carbon Cycle Study)

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Abstract

The Northwest Pacific Carbon Cycle Study (NOPACCS) was a program aimed at investigating the carbon cycle of the North Pacific Ocean, which can be thought of as a large reservoir of carbon dioxide. NOPACCS was also aimed at estimating the North Pacific's capacity as a carbon sink. Project design, scientific results, and data availability, and subsequent projects resulting from this project are also described in this review. Studies of the upper ocean processes focused on the latitudinal differences in the fugacity of carbon dioxide; and on the detail of plankton community structures. Intermediate water was studied in relation to the formation of North Pacific Intermediate Water and the amount of accumulated anthropogenic carbon. The sedimentation process, past carbon cycle and coral reefs were also studied during the project. A preliminary, overall view of the carbon cycle of the North Pacific was drawn from the results of the project and compared to global values.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Hiroshima University, Japan

    Hiroyuki Tsubota

  2. Institute of Environmental Sciences, Shin-Nippon Meteorological and Oceanographical Consultant Co., Ltd., 1334-5 Riemon, Ooigawa-cho, Shida-gun, Shizuoka, 421-0212, Japan

    Hiroyuki Tsubota & Yutaka W. Watanabe

  3. Kansai Environmental Engineering Center, Co., Ltd., 1-3-5 Azuchi-cho, Chuou-ku, Osaka, 541-0052, Japan

    Hiroyuki Tsubota

  4. National Institute for Resources and Environment, 16-3 Onogawa, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, 305-8569, Japan

    Joji Ishizaka

  5. Faculty of Fisheries, Nagasaki University, 1-14 Bunkyo, Nagasaki, Nagasaki, 852-8521, Japan

    Joji Ishizaka

  6. Geological Survey of Japan, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, 305-8567, Japan

    Akira Nishimura

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  1. Hiroyuki Tsubota
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  2. Joji Ishizaka
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  3. Akira Nishimura
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  4. Yutaka W. Watanabe
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Tsubota, H., Ishizaka, J., Nishimura, A. et al. Overview of NOPACCS (Northwest Pacific Carbon Cycle Study). Journal of Oceanography 55, 645–653 (1999). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1007803826886

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