Detecting the calcium carbonate saturation state under the stress of ocean acidification using saturometry technique

CO₂-induced ocean acidification lowers the degree of carbonate saturation state of the seawater, which affects calcification of marine organisms and influences the marine carbonate cycle, thus have negative impacts on the entire marine biogeochemical system. This study seeks to develop a rapid technique to detect carbonate saturation state of seawater based on conductivity changes. A series of batch and flow-through experiments were conducted using various CaCO₃ materials. Results show that the conductivity ratios of seawater with and without carbonate addition increase generally with decreasing carbonate saturation states (Ω). The relationship between conductivity ratio and log₁₀Ω apparently follows a linear trend when Ω < 1. It suggests that conductivity measurements can be used to indicate carbonate saturation state of seawater. It is expected to be deployed on CTD instrument to produce depth profiles of seawater carbonate saturation state and will be of great help to future studies on ocean acidification.