525
Glossary of Chemical Oceanography Terms
Partial Pressure of CO 2 : The partial pressure exerted by CO 2 in an inert gas like nitrogen
that is in equilibrium with a solution.
pK of Acids: The logarithm to base 10 of the reciprocal of the dissociation constant for an
acid (pK = –log K).
Pteropods: Marine pelagic gastropod mollusks with a shell made of aragonite.
Revelle Factor: The ratio of the changes in the partial pressure of CO 2 to those in the TCO 2
(total CO 2 ) [R = (ΔpCO 2 /pCO 2 )/(ΔTCO 2 /TCO 2 )].
Saturation State: The equilibrium state of a solution relative to the solubility of a given
solid (Ω = concentration product/ Ksp, where Ksp is the equilibrium solubility).
Solubility Product: The equilibrium constant defined for formation of a solid from its
components, A + B → AB(s), Ksp = [A][B].
Specific Alkalinity: The total alkalinity corrected for differences in salinity (SA = TA/ Cl).
Total CO 2 : The total concentration of inorganic carbon dioxide in a system or sample
([CO 2 ] + [HCO 3 ] + [CO 3 ]).
Total pH Scale, pH T : The pH scale defined as pH T = –log[H + ] T , where [H + ] T is the total proton concentration. It is determined using buffer solutions of ionic strength similar
to those being measured.
Tribasic Acid: An acid that has three hydrogen atoms (H 3 A).
TRIS Buffer: Buffer made up in a seawater medium that is used to calibrate pH electrodes.
Ultraviolet Energy: Electromagnetic radiation with wavelength 4 to 400 nm.
Whitings of CaCO 3 : Area where CaCO 3 appears to be precipitated from solution in the
oceans (e.g., Bahama Banks).
VIII. Micronutrients in the Oceans
Amino Acid: An acid in which a portion of the nonacid hydrogen has been replaced by an
amino group.
Ammonium: The nutrient NH 3 or NH 4
+ .
Ammonium Oxidation: Oxidation of NH 3 to NO 2
– or NO 3
– . This process is thought to be
responsible for the nitrite maximum immediately below the photosynthetic compensation depth.
Autoanalyzer: A device that automatically measures the nutrients in seawater.
Denitrification: Conversion of NO 3
– to N 2 or N 2 O. This process occurs largely because of
the use of nitrate for the growth of bacteria in anoxic waters.
Nitrate: The nutrient NO 3
– .
Nitrification: The oxidation of NH 3 to NO 3
– . This oxidation yields nitrite as an intermediate. The reaction takes place in the water column and in the sediments by bacteria.
Nitrite: The nutrient NO 2
– .
Nitrogen Dioxide: NO 2 , a component of the atmosphere resulting from the oxidation of
NO or nitrogen fixation.
Nitrogen/ Phosphorus Ratio: A comparison of the levels of N to P in the oceans (N:P = 15
to 16).
NO: Used as a conservative NO 3 tracer in seawater, equal to 9[NO 3 ] + [O 2 ] meas .
Nutrient: Trace elements that marine phytoplankton require for growth (N, P, Si).
Glossary of Chemical Oceanography Terms
Partial Pressure of CO 2 : The partial pressure exerted by CO 2 in an inert gas like nitrogen
that is in equilibrium with a solution.
pK of Acids: The logarithm to base 10 of the reciprocal of the dissociation constant for an
acid (pK = –log K).
Pteropods: Marine pelagic gastropod mollusks with a shell made of aragonite.
Revelle Factor: The ratio of the changes in the partial pressure of CO 2 to those in the TCO 2
(total CO 2 ) [R = (ΔpCO 2 /pCO 2 )/(ΔTCO 2 /TCO 2 )].
Saturation State: The equilibrium state of a solution relative to the solubility of a given
solid (Ω = concentration product/ Ksp, where Ksp is the equilibrium solubility).
Solubility Product: The equilibrium constant defined for formation of a solid from its
components, A + B → AB(s), Ksp = [A][B].
Specific Alkalinity: The total alkalinity corrected for differences in salinity (SA = TA/ Cl).
Total CO 2 : The total concentration of inorganic carbon dioxide in a system or sample
([CO 2 ] + [HCO 3 ] + [CO 3 ]).
Total pH Scale, pH T : The pH scale defined as pH T = –log[H + ] T , where [H + ] T is the total proton concentration. It is determined using buffer solutions of ionic strength similar
to those being measured.
Tribasic Acid: An acid that has three hydrogen atoms (H 3 A).
TRIS Buffer: Buffer made up in a seawater medium that is used to calibrate pH electrodes.
Ultraviolet Energy: Electromagnetic radiation with wavelength 4 to 400 nm.
Whitings of CaCO 3 : Area where CaCO 3 appears to be precipitated from solution in the
oceans (e.g., Bahama Banks).
VIII. Micronutrients in the Oceans
Amino Acid: An acid in which a portion of the nonacid hydrogen has been replaced by an
amino group.
Ammonium: The nutrient NH 3 or NH 4
+ .
Ammonium Oxidation: Oxidation of NH 3 to NO 2
– or NO 3
– . This process is thought to be
responsible for the nitrite maximum immediately below the photosynthetic compensation depth.
Autoanalyzer: A device that automatically measures the nutrients in seawater.
Denitrification: Conversion of NO 3
– to N 2 or N 2 O. This process occurs largely because of
the use of nitrate for the growth of bacteria in anoxic waters.
Nitrate: The nutrient NO 3
– .
Nitrification: The oxidation of NH 3 to NO 3
– . This oxidation yields nitrite as an intermediate. The reaction takes place in the water column and in the sediments by bacteria.
Nitrite: The nutrient NO 2
– .
Nitrogen Dioxide: NO 2 , a component of the atmosphere resulting from the oxidation of
NO or nitrogen fixation.
Nitrogen/ Phosphorus Ratio: A comparison of the levels of N to P in the oceans (N:P = 15
to 16).
NO: Used as a conservative NO 3 tracer in seawater, equal to 9[NO 3 ] + [O 2 ] meas .
Nutrient: Trace elements that marine phytoplankton require for growth (N, P, Si).