12 Quantification and Regionalization of Benthic Reflux
452
al. 2003; see Section 12.3.3) might support this
idea. However, if glacial/interglacial pCO 2 -
fluctuations can really be ascribed to the Siturnover remains questionable since the major
unresolved factor in the jigsaw is the potential
driving force behind the required perturbations of
the Si input to the system. In this regard, the
implementation of new perceptions concerning Sidissolution and control parameters needs to be
tackled by future generations of coupled models.
12.6 Concluding Remarks
The examples on regionalization of benthic fluxes
have emphasized the value of such studies for
solving a variety of problems related to establishing global element balances of the ocean. They
have also shown that 1) many aspects related to
the selection and compilation of the database
need to be taken into account prior to the
performance regional studies, and 2) that the
interpretation of distribution patterns requires the
knowledge of regional oceanographic and
geochemical conditions (e.g. sediment composition). Beyond this, regionalization can be used
as a very useful tool to prove the plausibility of
prevailing concepts on global biogeochemical
cycles, which are investigated with complex
coupled ocean models. Thus, hypotheses on
trans-regional to global biogeochemical interactions can be verified. More and more attention
is given to the creation and maintenance of databases in order to gather as many results as possible obtained from many successful, national and
international research programs. Apart from the
balance of essential single components, and as
follows from the current publications on the
distribution of primary production, it is the
characterization of the benthic biogeochemical
provinces that can be now formulated as the main
objective. The enormous quantities of the single
benthic flux estimates selected in Table 12.2 may
give a concluding impression of the great importance of benthic processes and flux rates within
the ocean cycles.
Acknowledgements
This is contribution No 0329 of the Research
Center Ocean Margins (RCOM), which is financed
by the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG).
12.7 Problems
Problem 1
Use the simple model approach from Figure 12.12
and the general values given (δ = 85%,
ϕ = 2,5 g cm
-3
, τ ½ = 500 yr) to calculate the degree
of organic carbon preservation when accumulation rates are 1 and 0,1 (mg cm
-2
yr
-1
) for NRP
and C org. , respectively, and a reactive mixed layer
of 10 cm thickness. Please consider that the
degradation of organic matter has an effect on the
sedimentation rate (ω).
Problem 2
What is the main reason that rain rate measurements with sediment traps should not be used to
estimate benthic biogeochemical processes and
especially their distribution patterns?
Problem 3
Why any regionalization with the kriging method
without previous application of variogram analysis is – strictly speaking – inadmissible?
Problem 4
Discuss advantages and disadvantages of estimating benthic fluxes by large-scale numerical
models.
452
al. 2003; see Section 12.3.3) might support this
idea. However, if glacial/interglacial pCO 2 -
fluctuations can really be ascribed to the Siturnover remains questionable since the major
unresolved factor in the jigsaw is the potential
driving force behind the required perturbations of
the Si input to the system. In this regard, the
implementation of new perceptions concerning Sidissolution and control parameters needs to be
tackled by future generations of coupled models.
12.6 Concluding Remarks
The examples on regionalization of benthic fluxes
have emphasized the value of such studies for
solving a variety of problems related to establishing global element balances of the ocean. They
have also shown that 1) many aspects related to
the selection and compilation of the database
need to be taken into account prior to the
performance regional studies, and 2) that the
interpretation of distribution patterns requires the
knowledge of regional oceanographic and
geochemical conditions (e.g. sediment composition). Beyond this, regionalization can be used
as a very useful tool to prove the plausibility of
prevailing concepts on global biogeochemical
cycles, which are investigated with complex
coupled ocean models. Thus, hypotheses on
trans-regional to global biogeochemical interactions can be verified. More and more attention
is given to the creation and maintenance of databases in order to gather as many results as possible obtained from many successful, national and
international research programs. Apart from the
balance of essential single components, and as
follows from the current publications on the
distribution of primary production, it is the
characterization of the benthic biogeochemical
provinces that can be now formulated as the main
objective. The enormous quantities of the single
benthic flux estimates selected in Table 12.2 may
give a concluding impression of the great importance of benthic processes and flux rates within
the ocean cycles.
Acknowledgements
This is contribution No 0329 of the Research
Center Ocean Margins (RCOM), which is financed
by the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG).
12.7 Problems
Problem 1
Use the simple model approach from Figure 12.12
and the general values given (δ = 85%,
ϕ = 2,5 g cm
-3
, τ ½ = 500 yr) to calculate the degree
of organic carbon preservation when accumulation rates are 1 and 0,1 (mg cm
-2
yr
-1
) for NRP
and C org. , respectively, and a reactive mixed layer
of 10 cm thickness. Please consider that the
degradation of organic matter has an effect on the
sedimentation rate (ω).
Problem 2
What is the main reason that rain rate measurements with sediment traps should not be used to
estimate benthic biogeochemical processes and
especially their distribution patterns?
Problem 3
Why any regionalization with the kriging method
without previous application of variogram analysis is – strictly speaking – inadmissible?
Problem 4
Discuss advantages and disadvantages of estimating benthic fluxes by large-scale numerical
models.