<Superscript>234</Superscript>Th/<Superscript>238</Superscript>U disequilibrium and particulate organic carbon export in the northern South China Sea

We utilized ²³⁴Th, a naturally occurring radionuclide, to quantify the particulate organic carbon (POC) export rates in the northern South China Sea (SCS) based on data collected in July 2000 (summer), May 2001 (spring) and November 2002 (autumn). Th-234 deficit was enhanced with depth in the euphotic zone, reaching a subsurface maximum at the Chl-a maximum in most cases, as commonly observed in many oceanic regimes. Th-234 was in general in equilibrium with ²³⁸U at a depth of ∼100 m, the bottom of the euphotic zone. In this study the ²³⁴Th deficit appeared to be less significant in November than in July and May. A surface excess of ²³⁴Th relative to ²³⁸U was found in the summer over the shelf of the northern SCS, most likely due to the accumulation of suspended particles entrapped by a salinity front. Comparison of the ²³⁴Th fluxes from the upper 10 m water column between 2-D and traditional 1-D models revealed agreement within the errors of estimation, suggesting the applicability of the 1-D model to this particular shelf region. 1-D model-based ²³⁴Th fluxes were converted to POC export rates using the ratios of bottle POC to ²³⁴Th. The values ranged from 5.3 to 26.6 mmol C m⁻²d⁻¹ and were slightly higher than those in the southern SCS and other oligotrophic areas. POC export overall showed larger values in spring and summer than in autumn, the seasonality of which was, however, not significant. The highest POC export rate (26.6 mmol C m⁻²d⁻¹) appeared at the shelf break in spring (May), when Chl-a increased and the community structure changed from pico-phytoplankton (<2 μm) dominated to nano-phytoplankton (2–20 μm) and micro-phytoplankton (20–200 μm) dominated.     

East-west distribution of POC fluxes estimated from <Superscript>234</Superscript>Th in the northern North Pacific in autumn

Observations of primary productivity, ²³⁴Th, and particulate organic carbon (POC) were made from west to east across the northern North Pacific Ocean (from station K2 to Ocean Station Papa) during September–October 2005. Primary productivities in this region varied longitudinally from approximately 236 to 444 mgC m⁻²d⁻¹ and clearly indicate the West High East Low (WHEL) trend. We estimated east-west variations in the POC flux from the surface layer (0–100 m) by using ²³⁴Th as a tracer. POC fluxes in the western region (44–53 mgC m⁻²d⁻¹) were higher than those in the eastern region (21–34 mgC m⁻²d⁻¹). However, the export ratios (e-ratios) ranged from approximately 8% to 16% and did not show the WHEL trend. Contrary to our expectation, no relation between POC flux (or e-ratio) and diatom biomass (or dominance) was apparent in autumn in the northern North Pacific.     

Seasonal export fluxes of particulate organic carbon from <Superscript>234</Superscript>Th/<Superscript>238</Superscript>U disequilibrium measurements in the Ulleung Basin<Superscript>1</Superscript> (Tsushima Basin) of the East Sea<Superscript>1</Superscript> (Sea of Japan)

Export fluxes of particulate organic carbon (POC) were estimated from the ²³⁴Th/²³⁸U disequilibrium in the Ulleung Basin¹ (UB) of the East/Japan Sea¹ (EJS) over four seasons. The fluxes were calculated by multiplying the average POC/²³⁴Th ratio of sinking particles larger than 0.7 μm at 100- and 200-m water depths to ²³⁴Th fluxes by the integrated ²³⁴Th/²³⁸U disequilibrium from the surface to 100-m water depth. In spring, the ²³⁴Th profiles changed dramatically with sampling time, and hence a non-steady-state ²³⁴Th model was used to estimate the ²³⁴Th fluxes. The ²³⁴Th flux estimated from the non-steady-state model was an order of magnitude higher than that estimated from the steady-state model. The ²³⁴Th fluxes estimated using the steady-state model showed distinct seasonal variation, with high values in summer and winter and low values in autumn. In spring, the phytoplankton biomass had the highest value, and primary production was higher than in summer and autumn, but the ²³⁴Th fluxes were moderate. However, these values might have been significantly underestimated, as the ²³⁴Th fluxes were estimated using the steady-state model. The POC export fluxes estimated in autumn were about four times lower than those in other seasons when they were rather similar. The annually averaged POC flux was estimated to be 161 ± 76 mgC m⁻² day⁻¹, which was somewhat lower than that in highly productive coastal areas, and higher than that in oligotrophic regions. The export/primary production (ThE) ratios ranged from 7.0 to 56.1%, with higher values in spring and summer and lower values in autumn and winter. In summer, a high ThE ratio of 48.4 ± 7.0% was measured. This may be attributed to the mass diatom sinking event following nitrate depletion. In the UB¹, the annually averaged ThE ratio was estimated to be 34.4 ± 12.9%, much higher than that in oligotrophic oceans. The high ThE ratio may have contributed to the high organic carbon accumulation in the UB¹.     

Particulate organic carbon export flux by 234Th/238U disequilibrium in the continental slope of the East China Sea

234Th is widely used to quantify the magnitude of upper ocean particulate organic carbon(POC)export in oceans.In the present work,the rates of particulate organic carbon export were measured based on the distribution patterns of234Th/238U disequilibrium in the water column within the continental slope of the East China Sea(ECS)during May 2011.The profiles of particulate and dissolved234Th activities at all three stations showed a relative deficit with respect to238U in the upper 100 m of the water column.The dissolved234Th scavenging rates and the particulate234Th removal rates and their residence times were calculated by a one-dimensional steady state model.The results showed that the dissolved234Th scavenging rates and the particulate234Th removal rates ranged from 12.4–61.4 dpm/(m3·d)andfrom3.8–21.8 dpm/(m3·d),respectively.The residence times of dissolved and particulate234Th were in the range of 3.4–158 d and 63.7–96.5 d,respectively.Combined with the measurement of POC/234Th ratios of suspended particles,POC export flux(calculated by carbon)from the euphotic zone was estimated in the study region,which ranged from 4.14–14.7 mmol/(m2·d),withanaverageof8.21mmol/(m2·d),occupying35%oftheprimeproductivity in the study area.The results of this study can provide new information for better understanding the carbon biogeochemical cycle within the continental slope of the ECS.     

Sediment trap experiments in the water column off southwestern Taiwan:234Th fluxes

The activity of²³⁴Th (t _1/2=24.1 days) in dissolved, particulate and sediment trap samples was determined in the water column off southwestern Taiwan during 2–4 October, 1993. Vertical²³⁴Th fluxes measured by the free-floating sediment traps ranged from 363 to 2290 dpm m^–2 d^–1 in the upper 450 m. Th-234 fluxes predicted from the irreversible scavenging model concur with those measured by the sediment traps. Comparison of the residence times of particulate²³⁴Th and particulate organic carbon showed that their respective values differ by a factor of approximately 23, which suggests organic carbon is preferentially recycled relative to²³⁴Th in the euphotic zone.     

234Th/238U disequilibrium and particulate organic carbon export in the northwestern South China Sea

234 Th was utilized as a tracer of particulate organic carbon (POC) export in the northwestern South China Sea (SCS) on the basis of the data collected at four stations during a spring cruise.Depth profiles of dissolved and particulate 234 Th activities were measured in the upper 60 m,showing a significant deficit relative to 238 U over the investigated stations.A stratified structure of 234 Th-238 U disequilibrium was in general observed in the upper 60 m water column,indicating that the euphotic zone of t...     

南大洋普里兹湾基于234Th/238U不平衡法的POC输出通量研究

中国第22次南极科学考察(2005年11月至2006年3月)期间,测定了南极普里兹湾海域5个站位的从表层至150 m水深的不同层位水样中溶解态和颗粒态234Th,238U的放射性比活度以及颗粒有机碳.利用234Th/238U在上层水体中的不平衡,计算了南极普里兹湾上层水体中234Th的平均停留时间和输出通量.结果显示,随着纬度的增加,上层水体中颗粒态和溶解态234Th的平均停留时间总体趋向减小,并在中纬度站位出现了最低值,分别为1~8和29~48 d,而颗粒态和溶解态234Th的输出通量则在中纬度站位出现了最大值,分别为21~38和26~39 dpm/(m3·d).运用箱型清除模式,利用两种不同的方法估算了各水柱中从真光层底部输出的POC通量,平均值分别达到104.7 mmol/(m2·d)(E法)和120.6 mmol/(m2·d)(B法),表明南极普里兹湾夏季存在很高的新生产力,它将会对该海域碳的生物泵过程产生重要作用.     

Short-lived thorium isotopes (Th, Th) as indicators of POC export and particle cycling in the Ross Sea, Southern Ocean

Repeated measurements of depth profiles of ²³⁴Th (dissolved, 1–70 and >70 μm particulate) at three stations (Orca, Minke, Sei) in the Ross Sea have been used to estimate the export of Th and particulate organic carbon (POC) from the euphotic zone. Sampling was carried out on three JGOFS cruises covering the period from October 1996 (austral early spring) to April 1997 (austral fall). Deficiencies of ²³⁴Th relative to its parent ²³⁸U in the upper 100 m are small during the early spring cruise, increase to maximum values during the summer, and decrease over the course of the fall. Application of a non-steady-state model to the ²³⁴Th data shows that the flux of Th from the euphotic zone occurs principally during the summer cruise and in the interval between summer and fall. Station Minke in the southwestern Ross Sea appears to sustain significant ²³⁴Th removal for a longer period than is evident at Orca or Sei. Particulate ²³⁴Th activities and POC are greater in the 1–70 μm size fraction, except late in the summer cruise, when the >70 μm POC fraction exceeds that of the 1–70 μm fraction. The POC/²³⁴Th ratio in the >70 μm fraction exceeds that in the 1–70 μm fraction, likely due in part to the greater availability of surface sites for Th adsorption in the latter. Particulate ²³⁴Th fluxes are converted to POC fluxes by multiplying by the POC/²³⁴Th ratio of the >70 μm fraction (assumed to be representative of sinking particles). POC fluxes calculated from a steady-state Th scavenging model range from 7 to 91 mmol C m⁻² d⁻¹ during late January–early February, with the greatest flux observed at station Minke late in the cruise. Fluxes estimated with a non-steady-state Th model are 85 mmol C m⁻² d⁻¹ at Minke (1/13–2/1/97) and 50 mmol C m⁻² d⁻¹ at Orca (1/19–2/1/97). The decline in POC inventories (0–100 m) is most rapid in the southern Ross Sea during the austral summer cruise (Smith et al., 2000. The seasonal cycle of phytoplankton biomass and primary productivity in the Ross Sea, Antarctica. Deep-Sea Research II 47, 3119–3140. Gardner et al., 2000. Seasonal patterns of water column particulate organic carbon and fluxes in the Ross Sea, Antarctica. Deep-Sea Research II 47, 3423–3449), and the ²³⁴Th-derived POC fluxes indicate that the sinking flux of POC is 30–50% of the POC decrease, depending on whether steady-state or non-steady-state Th fluxes are used. Rate constants for particle POC aggregation and disaggregation rates are calculated at station Orca by coupling particulate ²³⁴Th data with ²²⁸Th data on the same samples. Late in the early spring cruise, as well as during the summer cruise, POC aggregation rates are highest in near-surface waters and decrease with depth. POC disaggregation rates during the same time generally increase to a maximum and are low at depth (>200 m). Subsurface aggregation rates increase to high values late in the summer, while disaggregation rates decrease. This trend helps explain higher values of POC in the >70 m fraction relative to the 1–70 m fraction late in the summer cruise. Increases in disaggregation rate below 100 m transfer POC from the large to small size fraction and may attenuate the flux of POC sinking out of the euphotic zone.     

Controls of 234Th removal from the oligotrophic ocean by polyuronic acids and modification by microbial activity

To gain new insights into the variability of particulate organic carbon (POC) fluxes and to better understand the factors controlling the POC/²³⁴Th ratios in suspended and sinking particulate matter, we investigated the relationships between POC/²³⁴Th ratios and biochemical composition (uronic acids, URA; total carbohydrates, TCHO; acid polysaccharides, APS; and POC) of suspended and sinking matter from the Gulf of Mexico in 2005 and 2006. Our data show that URA/POC in sediment traps (STs), APS/POC in the suspended particles, and turnover times of particulate ²³⁴Th in the water column and those of bacteria in STs inside eddies usually increased with depth, whereas particulate POC/²³⁴Th (10–50 μm) and the sediment-trap parameters (POC flux, POC/²³⁴Th ratio, bacterial biomass, and bacterial production) decreased with depth. However, this trend was not the case for most biological parameters (e.g., phytoplankton and bacterial biomass) or for the other parameters at the edges of eddies or at coastal-upwelling sites.In general, the following relationships were observed: 1) ²³⁴Th/POC ratios in STs were correlated with APS flux, and these ratios in the 10–50 μm suspended particles also correlated with URA/POC ratios; 2) neither URA fluxes nor URA/POC ratios were significantly related to bacterial biomass; 3) the sum of two uronic acids (G2, glucuronic, and galacturonic acid, which composed most of the URA pool) was positively related to bacterial biomass; and 4) the POC/²³⁴Th ratios in intermediate-sized particles (10–50 μm) were close to those in sinking particles but much lower than those in > 50 μm particles. The results indicate that acid polysaccharides, though a minor fraction (~ 1%) of the organic carbon, act more likely as proxy compound classes that might contain the more refractory ²³⁴Th-binding biopolymer, rather than acting as the original ²³⁴Th “scavenger” compound. Moreover, these acid polysaccharides, which might first be produced by phytoplankton and then modified by bacteria, also influence the on-and-off “piggy-back” processes of organic matter and ²³⁴Th, thus causing additional variability of the POC/²³⁴Th in particles of different sizes.     

Regional estimates of POC export flux derived from thorium-234 in the western Arctic Ocean

1Introduction CarboncyclingintheArcticOceanplaysanim- portantroletoglobalchange.Traditionally,marine productivityintheArcticOceanisthoughttobevery low,andthussomebiogeochemicalprocessessuchas particleexportandcyclingofnutrientsarenotsoac- tivebecauseofthembeingcoveredperenniallybyice, lowtemperatureandshorttimeofphotosynthesis (PlattandRao,1975).Afewpreviousestimatesof particulateorganiccarbon(POC)exportindicateda neglectablemagnitudeinthecentralArcticOcean (Baconetal.,1989).However,recen…     

Role of colloidal material in the removal of 234Th in the Canada basin of the Arctic Ocean

The phase partitioning of ²³⁴Th between dissolved (<10-kiloDalton, kD), colloidal (10 kD—0.4 μm), and particulate (⩾0.5 μm) matter across a horizontal transect, from a coastal station to the deep Canada Basin, and a vertical profile in the deep Canada Basin of the western Arctic Ocean was investigated. Concentrations of suspended particulate matter (SPM), dissolved, colloidal and particulate organic carbon, particulate organic nitrogen and nutrients (silicate, phosphate and nitrate) were also measured to assess transport and scavenging processes.Total ²³⁴Th (colloidal+particulate+dissolved) indicated deficiencies relative to secular equilibrium with its parent, ²³⁸U in the upper 100 m, which suggests active scavenging of ²³⁴Th onto particle surfaces. In contrast, at depths >200 m, general equilibrium existed between total ²³⁴Th and ²³⁸U. The inventory of SPM and the specific activity of particulate ²³⁴Th in the Canada Basin was about an order of magnitude higher than the profile reported for the Alpha Ridge ice camp station. This higher concentration of SPM in the southwestern Canada Basin is likely derived from ice-rafted sedimentary particles. Inventories of nutrients, and dissolved organic carbon and nitrogen in the upper 100 m of the Canada Basin are comparable to the other estimates for the central Arctic Ocean. Comparison of the mass concentrations of colloidal and filter-retained particulate matter as well as the activity of ²³⁴Th in these phases indicates that only a very small component of the colloidal material is actively involved in Th scavenging. Lower values of the conditional partition coefficient between the colloidal and dissolved phase indicate that the Arctic colloids are less reactive than colloidal material from other regions. The conditional partition coefficient between the filter-retained and dissolved phases (K_f) is generally higher than that for other regions, which is attributed to the higher complexation capacity of glacio-marine sedimentary particles in these waters. The ²³⁴Th-derived export of POC for the shelf and deep Canada Basin ranges between 5.6 and 6.5 mmol m⁻² d⁻¹, and is in agreement with other estimates reported for the central Arctic Ocean and Beaufort Sea.     

厦门湾水体中颗粒有机碳的垂向输出通量:234Th/238U不平衡的应用

对厦门湾塔角附近海域某站位叶绿素 a、POC、初级生产力、234Th/238U不平衡进行的周日变化研究表明,POC含量介于14.4～34.6 mmol/m3之间,其中碎屑有机碳与活体有机碳所占份额分别为74%～92%和8%～26%.POC垂直分布呈现由表及底降低的趋势,且白昼期间POC含量高于晚间,说明研究海域POC含量与生物过程具有密切联系.初级生产力水平在1d之中变化达5倍,垂直分布亦随深度增加而降低,与叶绿素a的变化相对应.短时间(2h)培养获得的初级生产力水平明显高于长时间培养(24 h)的结果,证实部分新固定的碳被优先呼吸排出.结合234Th/238U不平衡法获得的颗粒态234Th输出通量及输出界面颗粒物中的POC/P_Th比值,可计算出真光层 POC的垂向输出通量为16.0mmol/(m2·d),其中碎屑有机碳与活体有机碳贡献的数量分别为13.3和2.7mmol/(m2·d).POC输出通量与初级生产力的比值(ThE比值)平均为0.31,真光层POC停留时间平均为11d.上述结果与Aksnes和Wassmann[1]的模型计算结果相吻合,但与其他大多数模型的结果仍存在一定的差异.     

Flocculation and phytoplankton cell size can alter Th-based estimates of the vertical flux of particulate organic carbon in the sea

The deficit of ²³⁴Th relative to its radioactive parent ²³⁸U in the surface ocean can yield reliable estimates of vertical Particulate Organic Carbon (POC) fluxes to deeper waters, but only when coupled with an accurate ratio of POC concentration to activity of ²³⁴Th on sinking matter. Assuming a simple partitioning of suspended phytoplankton mass between single cells and flocs, we calculate the ratio of the POC flux estimated from ²³⁴Th deficit to the actual POC flux (p ratio, Smith, J.N., Moran, S.B., Speicher, E.A., in press. The p-ratio: a new diagnostic for evaluating the accuracy of upper ocean particulate organic carbon export fluxes estimated from ²³⁴Th/²³⁸U disequilibrium. Deep-Sea Research I.). The p ratios are calculated under the assumption that particle surface area is correlated with ²³⁴Th activity and particle volume is correlated with POC concentration. The value of the p ratio depends on the relative contributions of single cells and flocs to the vertical flux. When large single cells make up a significant fraction of the vertical flux, p ratios are less than one, meaning POC fluxes estimated from ²³⁴Th deficits underestimate actual POC fluxes. When large single cells are abundant but do not sink fast enough to contribute to vertical POC flux, p ratios are greater than one (up to 3 × overestimate). Factor analysis of the model indicates that altering the extent of flocculation in suspension and changing the density and maximum size of phytoplankton cells have the greatest effects on the p ratio. Failure to measure the properties of flocs when characterizing the ratio of POC to thorium on sinking matter potentially leads to large overestimation of the POC flux (over 20 ×). Failure to characterize the POC to thorium ratio of large particles, by, for example, destruction of phytoplankton cells in pumps, can lead to underestimation of POC flux. Estimates of POC flux should be most reliable in highly flocculated suspensions populated by small cells and rapidly sinking flocs. These conditions are often associated with intense phytoplankton blooms.     

Calibration of sediment traps and particulate organic carbon export using 234Th in the Barents Sea

Profiles of particulate and dissolved ²³⁴Th (t_1/2=24.1 days) in seawater and particulate ²³⁴Th collected in drifting traps were analyzed in the Barents Sea at five stations during the ALV3 cruise (from June 28 to July 12, 1999) along a transect from 78°15′N–34°09′E to 73°49′N–31°43′E. ²³⁴Th/²³⁸U disequilibrium was observed at all locations. ²³⁴Th data measured in suspended and trapped particles were used to calibrate the catchment efficiency of the sediment traps. Model-derived ²³⁴Th fluxes were similar to ²³⁴Th fluxes measured in sediment traps based on a steady-state ²³⁴Th model. This suggests that the sediment traps were not subject to large trapping efficiency problems (collection efficiency ranges from 70% to 100% for four traps). The export flux of particulate organic carbon (POC) can be calculated from the model-derived export flux of ²³⁴Th and the POC/²³⁴Th ratio. POC/²³⁴Th ratios measured in suspended and trapped particles were very different (52.0±9.9 and 5.3±2.2 μmol dpm⁻¹, respectively). The agreement between calculated and measured POC fluxes when the POC/²³⁴Th ratio of trapped particles was used confirms that the POC/²³⁴Th ratio in trap particles is representative of sinking particles. Large discrepancies were observed between calculated and measured POC fluxes when the POC/²³⁴Th ratio of suspended particles was used. In the Barents Sea, vertical POC fluxes are higher than POC fluxes estimated in the central Arctic Ocean and the Beaufort Sea and lower than those calculated in the Northeast Water Polynya and the Chukchi Sea. We suggest that the latter fluxes may have been strongly overestimated, because they were based on high POC/²³⁴Th ratios measured on suspended particles. It seems that POC fluxes cannot be reliably derived from thorium budgets without measuring the POC/²³⁴Th ratio of sediment trap material or of large filtered particles.     

Incorporation rate measurements of <Superscript>10</Superscript>Be, <Superscript>230</Superscript>Th, <Superscript>231</Superscript>Pa,and <Superscript>239,240</Superscript>Pu radionuclides in manganese crust in the Pacific Ocean: A search for extraterrestrial material

In order to estimate the deposition rate of extraterrestrial material onto a manganese crust in a search for supernova debris, we analyzed the contents of ¹⁰Be, ²³⁰Th, ²³¹Pa, and ^239,240Pu in a sample of manganese crust collected from the North Pacific Ocean. On the basis of the depth profile of ¹⁰Be, the growth rate of the manganese crust was determined to be 2.3 mm Myr⁻¹. The uptake rates of ¹⁰Be, ²³⁰Th, and ²³¹Pa onto the manganese crust were estimated to be 0.22–0.44%, 0.11–0.73%, and 1.4–4.5%, respectively, as compared to the deposition rates onto the deep-sea sediments near the sampling station, while that for ^239,240Pu was 0.14% as compared to the total inventory of seawater and sediment column. Assuming that sinking particles represent 0.11–4.5% of the uptake rates, the deposition rate of extraterrestrial material onto the manganese crust was estimated to be 2–800 μg cm⁻²Myr⁻¹ according to the uptake of ¹⁰Be onto the manganese crust. Further, our estimate is similar to the value of 9–90 μg cm^{− 2}Myr⁻¹ obtained using the integrated global production rate of ¹⁰Be and the deposition rate of ¹⁰Be onto the manganese crust.     

Particulate organic carbon–Th relationships in particles separated by settling velocity in the northwest Mediterranean Sea

In order to better understand the relationship between the natural radionuclide ²³⁴Th and particulate organic carbon (POC), marine particles were collected in the northwestern Mediterranean Sea (spring/summer, 2003 and 2005) by sediment traps that separated them according to their in situ settling velocities. Particles also were collected in time-series sediment traps. Particles settling at rates of >100 m d⁻¹ carried 50% and 60% of the POC and ²³⁴Th fluxes, respectively, in both sampling years. The POC flux decreased with depth for all particle settling velocity intervals, with the greatest decrease (factor of 2.3) in the slowly settling intervals (0.68–49 m d⁻¹) over trap depths of 524–1918 m, likely due to dissolution and decomposition of material. In contrast the flux of ²³⁴Th associated with the slowly settling particles remained constant with depth, while ²³⁴Th fluxes on the rapidly settling particles increased. Taking into account decay of ²³⁴Th on the settling particles, the patterns of ²³⁴Th flux with depth suggest that either both slow and fast settling particles scavenge additional ²³⁴Th during their descent or there is significant exchange between the particle classes. The observed changes in POC and ²³⁴Th flux produce a general decrease in POC/²³⁴Th of the settling particles with depth. There is no consistent trend in POC/²³⁴Th with settling velocity, such as might be expected from surface area and volume considerations. Good correlations are observed between ²³⁴Th and POC, lithogenic material and CaCO₃ for all settling velocity intervals. Pseudo-K_ds calculated for ²³⁴Th in the shallow traps (2005) are ranked as lithogenic material opal <calcium carbonate <organic carbon. Organic carbon contributes 33% to the bulk K_d, and for lithogenic material, opal and CaCO₃, the fraction is 22% each. Decreases in POC/²³⁴Th with depth are accompanied by increases in the ratio of ²³⁴Th to lithogenic material and opal. No change in the relationship between ²³⁴Th and CaCO₃ was evident with depth. These patterns are consistent with loss of POC through decomposition, opal through dissolution and additional scavenging of ²³⁴Th onto lithogenic material as the particles sink.     

Th sorption and export models in the water column: A review

Over the past few decades, the radioisotope pair of ²³⁸U / ²³⁴Th has been widely and increasingly used to describe particle dynamics and particle export fluxes in a variety of aquatic systems. The present paper is one of five review articles dedicated to ²³⁴Th. It is focused on the models associated with ²³⁴Th whereas the companion papers (same issue) are focused on present and future methodologies and techniques (Rutgers van der Loeff et al.), C / ²³⁴Th ratios (Buesseler et al.), ²³⁴Th speciation (Santschi et al.) and present and future applications of ²³⁴Th [Waples, J.T., Benitez-Nelson, C.R., Savoye, N., Rutgers van der Loeff, M., Baskaran, M., Gustafsson, Ö., this issue. An Introduction to the application and future use of ²³⁴Th in aquatic systems. Marine Chemistry, FATE special issue]. In this paper, we review current ²³⁴Th scavenging models and discuss the relative importance of the non-steady state and physical terms associated with the most commonly used model to estimate ²³⁴Th flux. Based on this discussion we recommend that for future work the use of models should be accompanied by a discussion of the effect that model and data uncertainty have on the model results. We also suggest that future field work incorporate repeat occupations of sample sites on time scales of 1–4 weeks in order to evaluate steady state versus non-steady state estimates of ²³⁴Th export, especially during high flux events (> ca. 800 dpm m^− 2 d^− 1). Finally, knowledge of the physical oceanography of the study area is essential, particularly in ocean margins and in areas of established upwelling (e.g., Equatorial Pacific). These suggestions will greatly enhance the application of ²³⁴Th as a tracer of particle dynamics and flux in more complicated regimes.     

Distribution of 210Po and export of organic carbon from the euphotic zone in the southwestern East Sea (Sea of Japan)

The distribution of the natural radionuclide ²¹⁰Po in the water column along a horizontal transect of the continental shelf, slope and deep basin regions of the East Sea (Sea of Japan), a marginal sea of the Northwest Pacific Ocean, was investigated, and its behavior is described here. The settling fluxes of particulate ²¹⁰Po in the deep basin along with ²¹⁰Pb, ²³⁴Th and biogenic matter were also determined. ²¹⁰Po inventories in the water column were observed to decrease from winter to summer in all stations, probably due to increased influx of ²¹⁰Po-poor Kuroshio Water of the Northwest Pacific Ocean during summer. Vertical profiles of dissolved and particulate ²¹⁰Po along with the settling fluxes of particulate ²¹⁰Po in the deep basin station have enabled us to evaluate temporal variations and residence times of ²¹⁰Po. In the slope and basin, activities of dissolved ²¹⁰Po generally decreased from the surface to the bottom water, with maximum activity just below the subsurface chlorophyll a maximum at 50–75 m depth in spring and summer. These subsurface peaks of dissolved ²¹⁰Po activity were attributed to the release of ²¹⁰Po from the decomposition of ²¹⁰Po-laden biogenic particulate organic matter. In the deep basin, despite the decrease in total mass flux, the sinking flux of particulate ²¹⁰Po was higher in the deeper trap (2000 m) than in the shallower one (1000 m), probably due to scavenging of dissolved ²¹⁰Po from the water column during particle descent and/or break-down of ²¹⁰Po-depleted particulate matter between 1,000 m and 2,000 m depths. In general, the ratios of the particulate phase to the dissolved phase of ²¹⁰Po (K_d) increased with depth in the slope and basin stations. ²¹⁰Po removal from the water column appears to depend on the primary productivity in the upper waters. There is an inverse relationship between K_d and suspended particulate matter (SPM) concentration in the water column. From the ²¹⁰Po activity/chlorophyll a concentration ratios, it appears that sinking particles arriving at 1000 m depth were similar to those in the surface waters.     

Spatial and temporal distribution patterns of suspended particulate matter and particulate organic carbon in the Saronikos Gulf (eastern Mediterranean, Greece)

In 1998–1999, beam attenuation coefficient (bac) profiles, suspended particulate matter (SPM) and particulate organic carbon (POC) concentrations were assessed during five cruises in the Saronikos Gulf, eastern Mediterranean, Greece. SPM and POC concentrations (0.05–1.84 mg l⁻¹ and 10.2–468.6 μg l⁻¹, respectively) exhibited strong spatial and temporal variations, related to the different environmental characteristics of various sectors of the gulf, including wind regime and biological productivity. The Elefsis and Keratsini bays, as well as the area around Psyttaleia Island, showed the highest POC concentrations. The vertical distribution of POC at stations in the western basin, as well as in the inner and outer Saronikos Gulf is characterised by higher POC concentrations in surface waters, associated with higher biological activity. The wastewater treatment plant effluents discharged south of the Psyttaleia Island are a major source of organic particles which directly influence the intermediate water layers, at least during the stratification period. Assessments of relationships between bac and SPM or POC concentrations revealed a relatively strong correlation between bac and POC. An equation converting bac readings to POC concentration was established which can be applied to historical and/or future bac measurements, independently of season. POC concentrations estimated from calibrated continuous transmissometer readings were used to estimate the standing stock of POC in the Saronikos Gulf, which varied between 6,110×10⁶ and 13,450×10⁶ g C during the period June 1998 to February 1999.     

Particulate organic carbon export fluxes and size-fractionated POC/234Th ratios in the Ligurian,Tyrrhenian and Aegean Seas

Measurements of ²³⁴Th/²³⁸U disequilibria and particle size-fractionated (1, 10, 20, 53, 70, 100 μm) organic C and ²³⁴Th were made to constrain estimates of the export flux of particulate organic C (POC) from the surface waters of the Ligurian, Tyrrhenian and Aegean Seas in March–June 2004. POC exported from the surface waters (75–100 m depth) averaged 9.2 mmol m⁻² d⁻¹ in the Ligurian and Tyrrhenian Seas (2.3±0.5–14.9±3.0 mmol m⁻² d⁻¹) and 0.9 mmol m⁻² d⁻¹ in the Aegean Sea. These results are comparable to previous measurements of ²³⁴Th-derived and sediment-trap POC fluxes from the upper 200 m in the Mediterranean Sea. Depth variations in the POC/²³⁴Th ratio suggest two possible controls. First, decreasing POC/²³⁴Th ratios with depth were attributed to preferential remineralization of organic C. Second, the occurrence of maxima or minima in the POC/²³⁴Th ratio near the DCM suggests influence by phytoplankton dynamics. To assess the accuracy of these data, the empirical ²³⁴Th-method was evaluated by quantifying the extent to which the ²³⁴Th-based estimate of POC flux, P_POC, deviates from the true flux, F_POC, defined as the p-ratio (p-ratio=P_POC/F_POC=S_Th/S_POC, where S=particle sinking rate). Estimates of the p-ratio made using Stokes’ Law and the particle size distributions of organic C and ²³⁴Th yield values ranging from 0.93–1.45. The proximity of the p-ratio to unity implies that differences in the sinking rates of POC- and ²³⁴Th-carrying particles did not bias ²³⁴Th-normalized POC fluxes by more than a factor of two.