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Abstract The Arctic Ocean is experiencing a net loss of sea ice. Ice-free Septembers are predicted by 2050 with intensified seasonal melt and freshening. Accurate carbon dioxide uptake estimates rely on meticulous assessments of carbonate parameters including total alkalinity. The third largest contributor to oceanic alkalinity is boron (as borate ions). Boron has been shown to be conservative in open ocean systems, and the boron to salinity ratio (boron/salinity) is therefore used to account for boron alkalinity in lieu of in situ boron measurements. Here we report this ratio in the marginal ice zone of the Bering and Chukchi seas during late spring of 2021. We find considerable variation in born/salinity values in ice cores and brine, representing either excesses or deficits of boron relative to salinity. This variability should be considered when accounting for borate contributions to total alkalinity (up to 10 µmol kg⁻¹) in low salinity melt regions. 

The data provided here are from cruise SKQ2021-08S onboard the R/V Sikuliaq from May 21-June11, 2021 in the Bering and Chukchi Seas. The objective of the study was to evaluate the spatiotemporal dynamics of the carbon dioxide seawater system in the Pacific Arctic during the time of active sea ice retreat. This dataset includes discrete water column data for dissolved inorganic carbon and spectrophotometric pH on the total scale (measured at 25 degrees Celsius) along with nutrients, dissolved organic carbon, and in-situ hydrographic parameters. The outputs from carbonate system calculations (e.g., aragonite saturation state, in-situ pH) are also included. The dataset also includes continuous surface partial pressure of carbon dioxide (pCO2) data in both ppm and uatm measured at 15 minute intervals. 

This is the raw data collected in the Bering and Chukchi Seas that support our publication in Nature Communications - Earth and Environment 2022. The Arctic Ocean is experiencing a net loss of sea ice. Ice-free Septembers are predicted by 2050 with intensified seasonal melt and freshening. Accurate CO2 uptake estimates rely on meticulous assessments of carbonate parameters including total alkalinity. The third largest contributor to oceanic alkalinity is boron (as borate ions). Boron has been shown to be conservative in open ocean systems, and the boron to salinity ratio (boron/salinity) is therefore used to account for boron alkalinity in lieu of in situ boron measurements. Here we provide this ratio in the marginal ice zone of the Bering and Chukchi seas during late spring of 2021. We found considerable variation in born/salinity values in ice cores and brine, representing either excesses or deficits of boron relative to salinity. This variability should be considered when accounting for borate contributions to total alkalinity (up to 10 µmol kg-1) in low salinity melt regions.