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

Dissolution kinetics of calcium carbonate in equatorial Pacific sediments

Journal Article · · Global Biogeochemical Cycles; (United States)
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1029/93GB03394· OSTI ID:6955955
; ; ;  [1]
  1. Univ. of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA (United States)

Calcium carbonate dissolution exerts a major influence on the carbonate chemistry of seawater and is an important factor in regulating atmospheric CO2 concentration. The authors use a numerical model, based on an estimate of k determined from benthic chamber flux measurements, the distribution of CO3 2-in the water column and percent of CaCO3 in the sediments, to derive the total alkalinity flux from Pacific Ocean sediments. The significance of this budget is discussed as are the following questions: what is the rate of calcium carbonate dissolution on the deep sea floor what controls carbonate dissolution, organic carbon rain rates, or bottom water carbonate ion concentration what is the equations that relates carbonate dissolution to degree of undersaturation and what is the associate rate constant 43 refs., 10 figs., 4 tabs.

OSTI ID:
6955955
Journal Information:
Global Biogeochemical Cycles; (United States), Journal Name: Global Biogeochemical Cycles; (United States) Vol. 8:2; ISSN 0886-6236; ISSN GBCYEP
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English