The potential and current noise during pitting of A516-70 carbon steel in chloride-containing solutions were monitored. Statistical analyses were performed in an attempt to achieve some fundamental understanding of the corrosion processes for this system. It was concluded that the Temkin isotherm could be used to explain the competitive adsorption of Cl and HCO3 on the electrode surface. The initiation of pitting was characterized by typical potential and current transients: quick drop of potential and rise of current followed by their slow recoveries. Electrode capacitance played a major role on potential fluctuations. The noise resistance analysis was capable of identifying pitting at the critical Cl” concentration level, while the impedance method showed poorer sensitivity. Pitting activity in low Cl concentration solution showed an almost Poisson behavior, indicating little interaction among pitting events. Significant deviation horn Poisson behavior was observed at high Cl- concentration level, indicating cooperative pitting events. The calculation of an autocorrelation function also confined these
observations. Keywords: electrochemical noise, pitting, carbon steel, electrode capacitance, chloride ions, bicarbonate ions, adsorption, noise resistance, polarization resistance, cooperative pitting, Poisson distribution, autocorrelation function