Particulate organic carbon flux in the oceans-surface productivity and oxygen utilization.

Suess, Erwin (1980) Particulate organic carbon flux in the oceans-surface productivity and oxygen utilization. Nature, 288 (5788). pp. 260-263. DOI 10.1038/288260a0.

[thumbnail of 288260a0.pdf] Text
288260a0.pdf - Published Version
Restricted to Registered users only

Download (521kB) | Contact

Supplementary data:

Abstract

Organic detritus passing from the sea surface through the water column to the sea floor controls nutrient regeneration, fuels benthic life and affects burial of organic carbon in the sediment record. Particle trap systems have enabled the first quantification of this important process. The results suggest that the dominant mechanism of vertical transport is by rapid settling of rare large particles, most likely of faecal pellets or marine snow of the order of >200 μm in diameter, whereas the more frequent small particles have an insignificant role in vertical mass flux4–6. The ultimate source of organic detritus is biological production in surface waters of the oceans. I determine here an empirical relationship that predicts organic carbon flux at any depth in the oceans below the base of the euphotic zone as a function of the mean net primary production rate at the surface and depth-dependent consumption. Such a relationship aids in estimating rates of decay of organic matter in the water column, benthic and water column respiration of oxygen in the deep sea and burial of organic carbon in the sediment record.

Document Type: Article
Keywords: organic carbon, carbon flux, surface productivity, oxygen utilization
Refereed: Yes
Open Access Journal?: No
Publisher: Nature Publishing Group
Date Deposited: 01 Mar 2016 09:20
Last Modified: 01 Mar 2016 09:20
URI: https://oceanrep.geomar.de/id/eprint/31578

Actions (login required)

View Item View Item