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von sami S.

Difference in element profiles (conservative, particle reactive, bio-active or limiting)

between Atlantic and pacific?

- Conservative elements (e.g. Na) rather show no decline or increase of concentration with

depth. The concentrations are set largely due to the amount of river discharge into the

respective oceanic basin. Thus, generally speaking, concentrations of conservative elements

are generally slightly higher in the Atlantic, then in the pacific. This is because of the smaller

ocean volume, but higher overall river discharge

- Bio-active or limiting elements (e.g. NO3) typically show low concentrations in the mixed

surface layer or rather say euphotic layer. They are taken up during primary production. They

might be totally depleted in the mixed surface layer due to strong strong stratification

processes and no resupply from the deep. With increasing depth, they reach a maximum

concentration due to remineralization processes. Concentrations of bio-active elements are

usually higher in the pacific. During the journey of the thermohaline circulation, they have

received more OM input, which has been remineralized. Further, they are much older, and

there has been more time for even recalcitrant OM to remineralize.

- Particle reactive elements show different profiles. In general, areas of high productivity show

lower concentrations of particle reactive elements, as the adsorb to POM. If this OM gets

remineralized, below the mixed layers, the concentration of particle reactive matter increases

again. This can be a very local phenomena and should not be ascribed generally to the

respective oceans.

Author

sami S.

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