A comparison of suspended particulate matter from nepheloid and clear water

Particulate matter from the nepheloid layer and from regions of clearer water have been examined under the light microscope to determine particle concentration, size and composition. The total count of suspended particles is a basic difference between water samples from nepheloid layers of the North American and Brazil basins, and samples from the clearer water over the Mid-Atlantic Ridge in both the North and South Atlantic. The nepheloid layer of the North American Basin has four times, and the Brazil Basin three times the particle density of clearer water over the mid-ocean ridge. A greater percentage of particles of < 2 μ size prevails in nepheloid water ranging from 85–96% as compared to a range of 76–87% in the clear water. Non-opaque mineral grains form the major constituent.