Radium 228 as a tracer of basin wide processes in the Abyssal Ocean

Journal Article · Sat Nov 20 00:00:00 EST 1982 · J. Geophys. Res.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1029/JC087iC12p09694· OSTI ID:6792587

Sarmiento, J L; Rooth, C G.H.; Broecker, W S

A simple model of isopycnal mixing in a circular basin is developed in order to examine the utility of the 5.75-year half-life tracer radium 228 for studying basin wide processes in the deep ocean. The model shows that it is possible to resolve diffusivities of < or approx. =8 x 10/sup 7/ cm/sup 2/ s/sup -1/ in a basin of approx.3000-km diameter with profiles measured near the center and edge of the basin. A least squares fit of the model to four abyssal profiles measured during GEOSECS in the North American Basin gives an isopycnal diffusivity of 6 x 10/sup 7/ cm/sup 2/ s/sup -1/.

• Research Organization: Geophysical Fluid Dynamics Program, Princeton University, Princeton, New Jersey 08540
• OSTI ID: 6792587
• Journal Information: J. Geophys. Res.; (United States), Vol. 87:C12
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

58 GEOSCIENCES
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
RADIUM 228
RADIOECOLOGICAL CONCENTRATION
SEAS
CONTINUITY EQUATIONS
DIFFUSION
MIXING
QUANTITY RATIO
TRACER TECHNIQUES
ALKALINE EARTH ISOTOPES
BETA DECAY RADIOISOTOPES
BETA-MINUS DECAY RADIOISOTOPES
DIFFERENTIAL EQUATIONS
ECOLOGICAL CONCENTRATION
EQUATIONS
EVEN-EVEN NUCLEI
HEAVY NUCLEI
ISOTOPE APPLICATIONS
ISOTOPES
NUCLEI
PARTIAL DIFFERENTIAL EQUATIONS
RADIOISOTOPES
RADIUM ISOTOPES
SURFACE WATERS
YEARS LIVING RADIOISOTOPES
580500* - Oceanography- (1980-1989)
520300 - Environment
Aquatic- Radioactive Materials Monitoring &amp; Transport- (1989)