Elimination of fine suspensoids in the oceanic water column |
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Authors: | A Lerman KL Carder PR Betzer |
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Institution: | Department of Geological Sciences, Northwestern University, Evanston, Ill. 60201USA;Department of Marine Science, University of South Florida, St. Petersburg, Fla. 33701USA |
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Abstract: | Fine suspended materials in the particle-size range1 < r < 6 μm (r, equivalent sphere radius) from the equatorial North Atlantic, between the ocean surface and greater depths (30–5100 m), can be consistently described by a size-distribution relationshipdN/dr = Ar?b, where the parametersA andb are independent ofr. The shape of the particle-size distribution is essentially constant and independent of depth, as reflected in the values of the logarithmic slope of the size distributionb = 4.0 ± 0.3. The particle-number and mass concentration, however, decrease strongly with depth, most of the decrease taking place in the surface layer 200 m deep. In the surface layer, mass concentration decreases exponentially with the half-concentration depthz1/2 ? 60m; in the deep layer (200–5000 m),z1/2 ? 1000m. The computed removal half-lives of the particulate material are0.8 ± 0.6yr in the surface layer, and60 ± 20yr in the deep layer, both half-lives being considerably shorter than Stokes settling residence times. The fast turnover or removal rate in the surface layer is compatible with the rates of zooplankton growth and carbon assimilation. |
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