Possibilities of the photoluminescence method for determining the oxygen concentration in the redox zone of the Black Sea in comparison with other methods

Different methods of measuring low oxygen concentrations were compared in July 2008 in the Black Sea: the conventional Winkler method, electrochemical sensors (membrane and membrane-free), and two modifications of photoluminescence sensors. The membrane-free sensor used in the Black Sea since 1999 and the domestic photoluminescence sensor showed the best results: agreement of data, possibility of fine oxygen distribution resolution, and absence of the oxygen and hydrogen sulfide coexistence layer. The latter has good technical characteristics: high oxygen sensitivity and complete inertness to hydrogen sulfide, possibility of calibration in a gaseous environment, and a relatively low time constant (5–6 s). An equation was suggested for dynamic correction of data in the testing mode, which eliminates hysteresis of data on probe descent and ascent to a significant degree. It was shown that the oxygen concentration above the hydrogen sulfide layer in the subreductive zone of the Black Sea did not exceed 0.02 μM.     

On the rates of sulfide formation and oxidation in the Black Sea during the cold season

The rate of the hydrogen sulfide oxidation in the redox zone of the Black Sea and the rate of the hydrogen sulfide formation due to bacterial sulfate reduction in the upper layer of the anaerobic waters were measured during the period of February–April 1991. The measurements were made using a sulfur radioisotope under conditions close to those in situ. It was established that the hydrogen sulfide is oxidized in the layer where oxygen and hydrogen sulfide coexist, which is under the upper boundary of the hydrogen sulfide layer. The maximum rate of the hydrogen sulfide oxidation was recorded within the limits of the density values δτ of 16.20–16.30, while varying in the layer from 2 to 4.5 μM/day. The average rate of the hydrogen sulfide oxidation was 1.5–3 times higher than that during the warm season. Sulfide formation was not observed at most of the stations in the examined lower portion of the pycnocline layer (140 to 400 m depths). Noticeable sulfate reduction was detected only at one station on the northwestern shelf. A probable reason for such noticeable changes in the sulfur dynamics in the water mass of the Black Sea may be the intensified hydrodynamics in the upper layers of the water mass during the cold season. The data suggesting that hydrogen sulfide oxidation proceeds under the hydrogen sulfide boundary indicate the absence of the so called “suboxic zone” in this basin.     

Sulfide,iron, manganese,and phosphate in the deep water of the Chesapeake Bay during anoxia

Concentrations of dissolved oxygen and sulfide, and of dissolved and particulate iron, manganese, and phosphate were measured as functions of salinity at a station in the Chesapeake Bay during stratification and deep water anoxia in spring and summer, 1981. The observed concentration/salinity profiles showed that oxygen was transported in a direction opposite to that of salt, while dissolved sulfide was transported in the same direction as salt through the anoxic water to be oxidized in oxygen consumption zones located below the steepest parts of the halocline. Both oxygen and sulfide were transported conservatively on 18 June. Their fluxes were 1·2 and 2 mol m⁻² d⁻¹, respectively. The oxygen flux was 30% of that stoichiometrically needed to oxidize the sulfide transported, suggesting that the oxygen consumption zone was advancing to shallower, less saline water, thus increasing the volume of anoxic water. Although oxygen was transported conservatively, sulfide was produced as it was transported through the anoxic water on 8 July.The anoxic water was supersaturated with respect to ferrous sulfide on 18 June, but most of the anoxic water was saturated on 8 July. Precipitation of ferrous sulfide had little effect on the sulfide flux on 18 June. The manganese(II) concentration/salinity profile exhibited a maximum in the oxygen consumption zone on 18 June. On 8 July the profile was independent of salinity at high salinities. Iron(II) and manganese(II) consumed little if any oxygen in the oxygen consumption zone.Soluble reactive phosphate was transported conservatively through the anoxic water on 18 June. It was produced as it was transported on 8 July. All of the phosphate was consumed in the oxygen consumption zones by sulfide oxidizing bacteria. On 18 June its flux, estimated to be 2·8 mmol m⁻² d⁻¹, was less than 10% of that required for bacterial oxidation of the sulfide reaching the oxygen consumption zone. The rest was oxidized chemically. The growth and activity of the bacteria were limited by the rate at which soluble reactive phosphate was transported to the oxygen consumption zone.Little or none of the sulfide, iron(II), or phosphate originated in the bottom sediment at the station. The results indicate that they were transported into the water sampled from deeper more saline water downstream, suggesting that they originated in the deep trough that extends along the spine of the Bay. Manganese(II), however, resulted from the reduction and dissolution of oxidized manganese particles as they sank into the anoxic water.     

Oxygen fluxes in the Norwegian Atlantic Current

Oxygen and phosphate measurements from two sections across the Norwegian Atlantic Current, the Gimsøy-NW section from 67.5°N 9°E to 71.5°N 1°E and the Bjørnøya-W section along 74.5°N from 7 to 15°E, are used to estimate oxygen fluxes in the surface layer and between the atmosphere and the ocean. Vertical entrainment velocities of 0.9 m day⁻¹ for the winter season and 0.1 m day⁻¹ for the summer season are found and applied to the upper 300 m. The resulting oxygen fluxes to the surface layer driven by this vertical mixing are 0.58±0.05 and 0.27±0.02 mol O₂ m⁻² year⁻¹ at the Gimsøy-NW and Bjørnøya-W sections, respectively. Oxygen fluxes to the surface layer due to phytoplankton production are 2.6 and 3.4 mol O₂ m⁻² year⁻¹, which represent the net community production at the two sections. Estimated uncertainties in these numbers are ±15%. The surface water is a sink for atmospheric oxygen during fall and winter and a source during the productive season for both sections. On an annual basis there is a net uptake of oxygen from the atmosphere, 3.4±0.4 mol O₂ m⁻² year⁻¹ at the Gimsøy-NW section and 4.9±0.5 mol O₂ m⁻² year⁻¹ at the Bjørnøya-W. A decrease in temperature of 1°C to 1.5°C seen between the Gimsøy-NW section and the Bjørnøya-W section is the main reason for the increased atmospheric flux of oxygen at the latter section. An oxygen budget made for the area bounded by the two sections gives a net advective flux of oxygen out of the area of approximately 10 mol O₂ m⁻² year⁻¹. The increased concentration of oxygen corresponding to the decrease in surface layer temperatures going northwards in the Norwegian Atlantic Current is mainly attributed to the air–sea oxygen exchange and phytoplankton production in this area.     

Influence of water column dynamics on sulfide oxidation and other major biogeochemical processes in the chemocline of Mariager Fjord (Denmark)

Major electron donors (H₂S, NH₄⁺, Mn²⁺, Fe²⁺) and acceptors (O₂, NO₃⁻, Mn(IV), Fe(III)), process rates (³⁵SO₄²⁻ reduction, dark ¹⁴CO₂ fixation) and vertical fluxes were investigated to quantify the dominant biogeochemical processes at the chemocline of a shallow brackish fjord. Under steady-state conditions, the upward fluxes of reductants and downward fluxes of oxidants in the water column were balanced. However, changes in the hydrographical conditions caused a transient nonsteady-state at the chemocline and had a great impact on process rates and the distribution of chemical species. Maxima of S⁰ (17.8 μmol l⁻¹), thiosulfate (5.2 μmol l⁻¹) and sulfite (1.1 μmol l⁻¹) occurred at the chemocline, but were hardly detectable in the sulfidic deep water. The distribution of S⁰ suggested that the high concentration of S⁰ was (a) more likely due to a low turnover than a high formation rate and (b) was only transient, caused by chemocline perturbations. Kinetic calculations of chemical sulfide oxidation based on actual conditions in the chemocline revealed that under steady-state conditions with a narrow chemocline and low reactant concentrations, biological sulfide oxidation may account for more than 88% of the total sulfide oxidation. Under nonsteady-state conditions, where oxic and sulfidic water masses were recently mixed, resulting in an expanded chemocline, the proportion of chemical sulfide oxidation increased. The sulfide oxidation rate determined by incubation experiments was 0.216 μmol l⁻¹ min⁻¹, one of the highest reported for stratified basins and about 15 times faster than the initial rate for chemical oxidation. The conclusion of primarily biological sulfide oxidation was consistent with the observation of high rates of dark ¹⁴CO₂ fixation (10.4 mmol m⁻² day⁻¹) in the lower part of the chemocline. However, rates of dark ¹⁴CO₂ fixation were too high to be explained only by lithoautotrophic processes. CO₂ fixation by growing populations of heterotrophic microorganisms may have additionally contributed to the observed rates.     

On determination of low oxygen concentrations with Winkler technique

The accuracy and detection limit of the oxygen technique is an actual problem in studying the processes that occur in the redox zone. The formal accuracy of the Winkler technique is 1 μM (0.02 mL L⁻¹) and its detection limit is about 3.0 μM (0.06 mL L⁻¹). These values are significantly higher than the similar characteristics (in molar concentrations) for such parameters as the hydrogen sulphide, nitrates, manganese, and others. In this work, we describe some recommendations for increasing the accuracy of the Winkler technique. The results of the application of these recommendations for the suboxic zone of the Black Sea are presented. During the 100th cruise of the R/V Professor Shtokman, argon-filled balloons were attached to the upper valves of Niskin bottles during the sampling, which allowed protecting the samples from contamination with atmospheric oxygen. The titration was performed with an automatic Metrohm Titrino burette with potentiometric end point detection. That allowed us to significantly increase the accuracy and decrease the detection limit compared with the visual techniques. The oxidized forms of metals present in the sea water (Mn(IV), Mn(III); Fe(III)) were measured, which allowed us to correct the Winkler technique calculations for the oxidizers. The studies performed during the 100th cruise of the R/V Professor Shtokman confirmed the absence of a layer of the coexistence of oxygen and hydrogen sulphide.     

Interpolation of TC02 data on a 1° × 1° grid throughout the water column below 500 m depth in the Atlantic Ocean

We have combined the available total CO₂, temperature, salinity and oxygen data from the TTO, SAVE and WOCE programs in the Atlantic Ocean to parameterize TCO₂ below 500 m depth as a function of potential temperature, salinity and apparent oxygen utilization. We then use the Levitus data set of temperature, salinity and oxygen to compute the TCO₂ profiles at the resolution of the Levitus data set on a 1° × 1° grid with a vertical resolution of 33 layers, more densely spaced in the upper 1500 m than below. Depending on the method used to interpolate the data (along isopycnals or vertically by station), the estimated random uncertainty of the computed TC0₂ values in the Atlantic Ocean throughout the water column below the wintertime mixed layer depth ranges from ± 7.1 μmol kg⁻¹ to t 5.9 μmol kg⁻¹.     

The distribution of oxygen and hydrogen sulfide in Black Sea waters during winter-spring period

Regularities of oxygen and hydrogen sulfide are examined, using the method of spatial isopycnic analysis. The contribution that ventilation of winter-time surface waters over the domes of cyclonic gyres makes to the transfer of O₂ towards the upper boundary of the constant pycnocline and to the oxicline layer is demonstrated. The paper provides spatial scales of this phenomenon and indicates the areas where the upper boundary of the anoxic layer in the Black Sea, relative to the conventional density, is located much higher compared with the rest of the sea. The suboxic zone is shown to be a specific feature of the O₂/H₂S distribution in the Black Sea waters, typical, at least, of the northern part of the basin. Analysis of the suboxic spatial variability in the vertical has been conducted. Translated by Vladimir A. Puchkin.     

Biogeochemical evidence of large diapycnal diffusivity associated with the subtropical mode water of the North Pacific

A profiling float equipped with a fluorimeter, a dissolved oxygen (DO) sensor, and temperature and salinity sensors was deployed in the subtropical mode water (STMW) formation region of the North Pacific. It acquired quasi-Lagrangian, 5-day-interval time-series records from March to July 2006. The time-series distribution of chlorophyll showed a sustained and sizable subsurface maximum at 50–100 m, just above the upper boundary of the STMW, throughout early summer (May–July). The DO concentration in this lower euphotic zone (50–100 m) was almost constant and supersaturated in the same period, becoming more supersaturated with time. On the other hand, the DO concentration at 100–150 m near the upper boundary of the STMW decreased much more slowly compared with the main layer of STMW below 150 m, even though oxygen consumption by organisms was expected to be larger in the former depth range. The small temporal variations of DO in the lower euphotic zone and near the upper boundary of the STMW were reasonably explained by downward oxygen transport because of large diapycnal diffusion near the top of the STMW. Assuming that the oxygen consumption rate at 100–150 m was the same as that in the main layer of STMW and compensated by the downward oxygen flux, the diapycnal diffusivity was estimated to be 1.7 × 10⁻⁴ m² s⁻¹. Nitrate transport into the euphotic zone by the same large diffusion was estimated to be 0.8 mmol N m⁻² day⁻¹. All of the transported nitrate could have been used for photosynthesis by the phytoplankton; net community production was estimated to be 5.3 mmol C m⁻² day⁻¹.     

Some physicochemical features of a meromictic Lake Suigetsu

Physicochemical features of a typically meromictic lake, Lake Suigetsu, are studied. Vertical distributions of temperature and chlorinity show that the lake is well stratified, and no marked mixing occurs between the upper fresh water and lower salt water. In the chemocline, the vertical gradient of density is large, and the vertical eddy diffusion coefficient is as low as 1.5 × 10^–2 cm² sec.^–1 Dissolved oxygen is saturated in the surface portion of the upper water, and then rapidly decreases with depth towards the chemocline, where sulfide first appears and increases towards the bottom. In the chemocline oxygen consumption is prominent process reaching 290 mg 0₂/m²/day. The oxidation of sulfide, supplied from the underlying water layer, is the main factor causing the oxygen consumption in the chemocline.     

麦哲伦海山区MD、ME、MF海山富钴结壳特征

麦哲化海山区MD、ME、MF海山具有三层构造的结壳特征，研究表明，结壳可分为上部较致密层、中部疏松层、下部致密层。致密层构造单一，含很少脉石矿物；疏松层构造杂乱，含有大量脉石矿物；较致密层介于两者之间，壳层矿物有锰相矿物（主要为水羟锰矿）、铁相矿物和次要矿物（粘土矿物、钙十字沸石、石英、方解石、磷灰石等）。不同壳层地球化学特征具有明显差异性，Ce异常表明在结壳从下层到上层的生长过程中，环境的氧化性逐渐减弱，结壳^10Be测年结果表明，疏松层的生长速率最大，其次为致密层，较致密层的生长速率最小。推测区的最老的结壳的生长年代为中新世晚期，在4Ma以前，区内水动力条件很弱，氧化性较强；4－3．1MaBP水动力条件较强，氧化性较弱；2．6MaBP以来，水动力条件为强－弱波动期，氧化性较弱。     

Intermediate Waters in the East/Japan Sea

Properties of the intermediate layer in the East/Japan Sea are examined by using CREAMS data taken mainly in summer of 1995. Vertical profiles of potential temperature, salinity and dissolved oxygen and relationships between these physical and chemical properties show that the dissolved oxygen concentration of 250 μmol/l, roughly corresponding to 0.6°C at the depth of about 400 db, makes a boundary between intermediate and deep waters. Water colder than 0.6°C has a very stable relationship between potential temperature and salinity while salinity of the water warmer than 0.6°C is lower in the western Japan Basin than that in the eastern Japan Basin. The low salinity water with high oxygen corresponds to the East Sea Intermediate Water (ESIW; <34.06 psu, >250 μmol/l and >1.0°C) which was previously identified by Kim and Chung (1984) and the high salinity water with high oxygen found in eastern Japan Basin is named as the High Salinity Intermediate Water (HSIW; >34.07 psu, >250 μmol/l and >0.6°C). Spatial distribution of salinity and acceleration potential on the surface of σ_ϑ = 27.2 kg/m³ shows that the ESIW prevailing in the western Japan Basin is transported eastward by a zonal flow along the polar front near 40°N and a cyclonic gyre in the eastern Japan Basin is closely related to the HSIW. This revised version was published online in August 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Use of a problem-oriented database for statistical analysis of the hydrochemical characteristics of the redox layer of the Black Sea

A problem-oriented database (PODB) was developed for the statistical analysis of the hydrochemical characteristics of the redox layer of the Black Sea. The paper describes the features of the PODB, including the algorithm of interpolation and the location of the levels of the appearance and disappearance of hydrochemical parameters (the so-called onset levels) based on Akima’s spline. The application of the PODB allowed us to obtain a series of biogeochemical estimates, in particular, (1) to reveal the constancy of the vertical gradients of the hydrochemical parameters at selected density levels; (2) to calculate the seasonal variability of the degree of manifestation of the phosphate minimum in the near-shore and open sea areas; and (3) to calculate the interannual variability of the level of the disappearance of the hydrogen sulfide, ammonium, total manganese, and methane, as well as the oxygen content in the cold intermediate layer, and to find out their relations with the climatic variations.     

Water circulation and hydrological structure in the active layer of the 50-mile near-shore zone of the Russian sector of the black sea in August 2004

The water dynamics and hydrological structure in the active (oxygen-containing) layer are considered on the basis of the hydrological survey carried out in the 50-mile near-shore zone of the Russian sector of the Black Sea in August 2004 and over the permanent section from Gelendzhik to the central part of the sea. Five mesoscale eddy structures of different signs were observed in the Main Black Sea Current between Sochi and the Kerch Strait. Such a dynamic situation contributed to the intensive horizontal water exchange between the near-shore and open sea waters as well as to the redistribution of water masses over the vertical in the active sea layer, which is indicated by the deepening of the top boundary of the hydrogen sulfide zone in the Russian sector of the sea by 15–20 m.     

Condition of coastal mesoplankton communities in the northeastern area of the Black Sea in 2005

The structure and distribution of mesoplankton in the northeastern part of the Black Sea along 6-mile and 100-mile sections in the area off Golubaya Bay (near the city of Gelendzhik) were analyzed. The studies were performed from R/V Akvanavt and the boat Ashamba. The observations were carried out during the vegetation season from the beginning of June to the first half of October 2005. Samples of mesoplankton were collected with use of a BSD net with an opening of 0.1 m² and a mesh size of 180 μm. Both the total (over the entire water column) and layer-by-layer (separately for the upper quasi-homogeneous layer, the seasonal thermocline, and the subthermocline layer) hauls were performed down to the bottom (at sea depths of less than 200 m) or down to the upper boundary of the hydrogen sulfide waters. The particular hydrophysical conditions that were observed in 2005 resulted in an approximately one-month advance of the phenological condition of the planktonic community as compared to the usual pattern. Beroe ovata appeared in the plankton at the end of July, the mass development of Mnemiopsis leidyi was suppressed, and the duration of its influence on edible zooplankton was essentially reduced. As a result, the total mesoplankton biomass in August–October 2005 was 1.5–2 times as great as that in 2004. The abundance of Acartia clausi increased approximately 4–5 times and the quantity of Sagitta setosa also considerably increased. At selected stations, Mnemiopsis leidyias, the main predator in the community, was replaced by Sagitta setosa.     

东、黄海柱状沉积物中有机磷与无机磷的含量与分布研究

研究了东、黄海海域典型站位柱状沉积物中总磷(TP)、无机磷(IP)及有机磷(OP)的含量及其分布特征.东海、黄海海域3种形态磷的浓度范围分别如下:东海:TP 13.73～19.85 μmol·g~(-1),IP 11.39～16.03 μmol·g~(-1)和OP 2.11～3.81 μmol·g~(-1);黄海:TP 14.44～18.33 μmol·g~(-1);IP 11.79～15.88 μmol·g~(-1)和OP 2.45～2.65 μmol·g~(-1).两海区沉积物中IP/TP和OP/TP变化范围分别为79%～88%和12%～21%.IP是研究海域沉积物中磷的主要存在形式,陆源输入为影响沉积物磷浓度的主要因素.地处长江口附近的E4站和东海中部海区的E6站分别为所有调查站位中各形态磷浓度的最高和最低者.不同海区柱状沉积物中各形态磷浓度的垂直分布特点不同.其分布特征在一定程度上反映了相应历史时段该站位营养盐输入水平、自然条件和人类活动的重大变化.     

Diagenetic deposition of manganese in sediment of a historically meromictic lake,Lake Suigetsu,Japan

Vertical profiles of manganese concentration in interstitial waters and of manganese and iron contents in five chemically-separated fractions of sediments have been studied in a sediment core (73 cm long) from a meromictic lake, Lake Suigetsu, which changed from freshwater to brackish conditions in 1664 A.D. The interstitial waters show a minimum manganese concentration of 0.13 ppm near a depth of 10 cm and a maximum of 26 ppm near 65 cm in the core. A predominant amount of manganese, up to 0.17%, is found in the hydrogen peroxide-soluble fraction of sediments in layers above a depth of 52 cm. It is suggested that the manganese is included in stable iron sulfides such as pyrite. Manganese, which diffuses upward from the lower layer, is thought to be deposited along with stable iron sulfide during diagenetic formation of the latter near a depth of 10 cm in the core.     

The Distribution and Redox Chemistry of Iron in the Pettaquamscutt Estuary

A series of high resolution (10 cm) vertical profiles of iron were determined across the oxic/anoxic boundary in the Lower Pond of the Pettaquamscutt Estuary. Selective chemical treatments and multiple analytical methods were used to detemine the oxidation state and lability of iron across the oxic/anoxic boundary. The vertical distributions of dissolved and total iron were determined by atomic absorption spectroscopy, and dissolved Fe(II) and reducible iron were determined using a modified Ferrozine spectrophotometric method. Well-developed maxima of total dissolved iron ≈7·5 μM occurred within the oxic/anoxic transition zone. Analysis of Fe(II) by the FZ method indicates that more than 95% of the dissolved iron determined by atomic absorption spectroscopy within the maximum is in the form of Fe(II). The concentration of dissolved Fe(II) ranged from <4 nM in oxygenated surface waters to between 7 and 8 μM at the total dissolved iron maximum.Both dissolved and total iron samples were treated with ascorbic acid to quantify the fraction of iron that was reducible in this system. Dissolved iron is quantitatively reduced to Fe(II) by 3·5 m depth, and particulate iron was almost completely dissolved by 6 m. Thermodynamic speciation calculations indicate that the dominant species of Fe(II) in the anoxic waters is the Fe(HS)⁺complex. In addition, the concentration of Fe(II) in the anoxic zone appears to be controlled by precipitation of a sulfide phase, the ion activity product for waters below 7 m is in good agreement with the solubility product of mackinawite.The vertical distribution of oxidation states of the metals indicates non-equilibrium conditions due to microbiological and chemical processes occurring in the redox transition zone. A one-dimensional vertical, eddy diffusion model is presented that incorporates redox reactions of iron, sulfide and oxygen. The modeling suggests the maximum in Fe(II) can be achieved through inorganic oxidation and reduction reactions, however the depth at which the maximum occurs is sensitive to sulfide oxidation, which appears to be dominated by biological oxidation. The magnitude of the Fe(II) maximum depends on the flux of iron into the basin, and reductive dissolution of particulate iron.     

Nutrient regeneration at bottom after a massive spring bloom in a subarctic coastal environment,Funka Bay,Japan

Nutrient regeneration and oxygen consumption after a spring bloom in Funka Bay were studied on monthly survey cruises from February to November 1998 and from March to December 1999. A high concentration of ammonium (more than 4 μmol l⁻¹) was observed near the bottom (80–90 m) after April. Phosphate and silicate gradually accumulated and dissolved oxygen decreased in the same layer. Salinity near the bottom did not change until summer, leading to the presumption that the system in this layer is semi-closed, so regenerated nutrients were preserved until September. Nitrification due to the oxidation of ammonium to nitrate was observed after June. Nitrite, an intermediate product, was detected at 4–7 μmol L⁻¹ in June and July 1999. Assuming that decomposition is a first order reaction, the rate constant for decomposition of organic nitrogen was determined to be 0.014 and 0.008 d⁻¹ in 1998 and 1999, respectively. The ammonium oxidation rate increased rapidly when the ambient ammonium concentration exceeded 5 μmol L⁻¹. We also performed a budget calculation for the regeneration process. The total amount of N regenerated in the whole water column was 287.4 mmol N m⁻² in 4 months, which is equal to 22.8 gC m⁻², assuming the Redfield C to N ratio. This is 34% of the primary production during the spring bloom and is comparable to the export production of 25 gC m⁻² measured by a sediment trap at 60 m (Miyake et al., 1998).     

Seasonal dynamics of elemental sulfur in two coastal sediments

A spectrophotometric method for elemental sulfur (S⁰) analysis without interference from other reduced sulfur compounds was adapted for the use in reducing sediments. The S⁰ distribution in two coastal sediments was studied regularly from summer to winter and compared to factors regulating the S⁰ accumulation, such as redox potentials, the rate of bacterial sulfide production and the general sulfur chemistry. Dense coatings of sulfur bacteria developed on the sediment surface of a sulfuretum which had an S⁰ concentration of up to 41 μmol S cm^?3. The 2·5-mm thick bacterial coating contained 40% of all S⁰ in the sediment. A more typical marine sediment with a few cm thick oxidized surface layer had an S⁰ maximum of 1–3 μmol S cm^?3 at 2–4 cm depth. The S⁰ maximum in both sediments increased from summer to winter as the sediments gradually became more oxidized. The deeper layers maintained a low S⁰ concentration. Most of the S⁰ in the upper few mm of a laboratory sulfuretum was present inside sulfur bacteria and actively migrated up and down with the bacteria depending upon the changing light and oxygen conditions.