126
C.Lee
allow the particles to sink. Sinking speed in turn influences the profile of organic matter
remineralization with depth and the effectiveness of the deep ocean as a carbon sink.
The deeper remineralization occurs, the longer recycled carbon is kept from contact
with surface waters and the atmosphere. However, the extent to which dense mineral
ballast determines how fast particles sink is currently unknown, and this is one of the
critical, outstanding problems in the study of particulate matter in the sea.
5.2
Relation of Carbon Flux with Primary Production
Sediment traps capture large particles that sink in the water column and can be used
to estimate the flux of these particles and their constituents (Honjo 1996). Sediment
trap studies have demonstrated a direct correlation between primary production and
the downward flux of bulk particulate organic carbon in regions of different average
productivity and over time at individual sites with seasonally variable primary production. Below, details of these relations are investigated.
5.2.1
Spatial Relation
Early sediment trap studies suggested that carbon, and frequently mass fluxes, were
dependent on total primary production. However, large variations in the nature of the
relationship between flux and productivity were observed, depending on location
(Fig. 5.1). It was quickly realized that carbon export from the euphotic zone is more
closely related to "new production" (Eppley and Peterson 1979), and later models reFig. 5.1. Sediment trap studies
have shown a spatial correlation between the flux of bulk
carbon (or mass) and primary
production. Three different
curves from the literature are
shown here (after Suess 1980,
Betzer et al.1984; Pace et al.
1987)
300~------------------------~
250
1
"I
E 200
u
E)
.~
.~ 150
v
j
'tI
[
~ 100
III
.S
ct
50
i
. .
/
I
/
I
/
I
/
I
/
...
/
I
/
I
/
I
/
I
/
I
/
...
/
I
/
I
/
I
/
...
/
I
I i
/
I
/
I
/
I
/
...
/
I
/ I
/ I
/ I
/ ...
/1
/1
/1
/1
,I
Betzer et al. (1984)
Pace et al. (1987)
Suess (1980)
o~r~---r-----r-----r----'-----.---~
o
5
10
15
20
25
30
Downward flux at 900 m (9 m-2 yrl)
C.Lee
allow the particles to sink. Sinking speed in turn influences the profile of organic matter
remineralization with depth and the effectiveness of the deep ocean as a carbon sink.
The deeper remineralization occurs, the longer recycled carbon is kept from contact
with surface waters and the atmosphere. However, the extent to which dense mineral
ballast determines how fast particles sink is currently unknown, and this is one of the
critical, outstanding problems in the study of particulate matter in the sea.
5.2
Relation of Carbon Flux with Primary Production
Sediment traps capture large particles that sink in the water column and can be used
to estimate the flux of these particles and their constituents (Honjo 1996). Sediment
trap studies have demonstrated a direct correlation between primary production and
the downward flux of bulk particulate organic carbon in regions of different average
productivity and over time at individual sites with seasonally variable primary production. Below, details of these relations are investigated.
5.2.1
Spatial Relation
Early sediment trap studies suggested that carbon, and frequently mass fluxes, were
dependent on total primary production. However, large variations in the nature of the
relationship between flux and productivity were observed, depending on location
(Fig. 5.1). It was quickly realized that carbon export from the euphotic zone is more
closely related to "new production" (Eppley and Peterson 1979), and later models reFig. 5.1. Sediment trap studies
have shown a spatial correlation between the flux of bulk
carbon (or mass) and primary
production. Three different
curves from the literature are
shown here (after Suess 1980,
Betzer et al.1984; Pace et al.
1987)
300~------------------------~
250
1
"I
E 200
u
E)
.~
.~ 150
v
j
'tI
[
~ 100
III
.S
ct
50
i
. .
/
I
/
I
/
I
/
I
/
...
/
I
/
I
/
I
/
I
/
I
/
...
/
I
/
I
/
I
/
...
/
I
I i
/
I
/
I
/
I
/
...
/
I
/ I
/ I
/ I
/ ...
/1
/1
/1
/1
,I
Betzer et al. (1984)
Pace et al. (1987)
Suess (1980)
o~r~---r-----r-----r----'-----.---~
o
5
10
15
20
25
30
Downward flux at 900 m (9 m-2 yrl)