Skip to main content
U.S. Department of Energy
Office of Scientific and Technical Information

Radiocarbon in particulate matter from the eastern sub-arctic Pacific Ocean: evidence of source of terrestrial carbon to the deep sea

Journal Article · · Radiocarbon; (United States)
OSTI ID:6181067
Carbon isotope ratios were measured in organic and inorganic carbon of settling particulate matter collected with a sediment trap at Ocean Station P in the Gulf of Alaska from March to October, 1983. Dissolved inorganic carbon (DIC) in surface sea water collected during two different seasons in 1984 were analyzed using large gas proportional counters and revealed a minimum seasonal ..delta../sup 14/C variation of 14 per thousand. Results show that the ..delta../sup 14/C of calcium carbonate sedimenting to the deep sea is the same as that measured in surface water DIC. In contrast, particulate organic carbon (POC) had significantly higher ..delta../sup 14/C values (by 25-70 per thousand) than that in surface water DIC. Also, the ..delta../sup 13/C of the POC was markedly lower than previously reported values from other trap stations and marine particulate matter in general. Results from this study suggest that a significant amount of the POC settling to the deep sea at this pelagic station is of terrestrial origin, not strictly of marine origin as had previously been believed.
Research Organization:
Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, MA
OSTI ID:
6181067
Journal Information:
Radiocarbon; (United States), Journal Name: Radiocarbon; (United States) Vol. 28:2A; ISSN RACAA
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English