Dissolved carbonate-carbon dioxide in sea water of the South China Sea, Area II: Sabah, Sarawak and Brunei Darussalam

Abstract

Dissolved carbonate species in seawater are determined from pH and total alkalinity. The data clearly pointed out the significance of Rajang River as a source of organic matters that were subsequently decomposed and cause CO₂ gas to evade from nearshore water in its vicinity into the atmosphere while most offshore surface water was the sink of atmospheric CO₂. The total alkalinity profiles indicated dissolution of carbonate minerals, believed to be high magnesian calcite, below 500 m, which reinforce CO₂ storing capacity of these waters.