Open AccessDynamic solute release from marine aggregates
Author(s) -
Liu Bo,
Kindler Kolja,
Khalili Arzhang
Publication year - 2012
Publication title -
limnology and oceanography: fluids and environments
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
ISSN - 2157-3689
DOI - 10.1215/21573689-2016772
Subject(s) - classification of discontinuities , ammonium , aggregate (composite) , nitrate , total organic carbon , leakage (economics) , environmental science , soil science , chemistry , environmental chemistry , materials science , mathematical analysis , mathematics , organic chemistry , economics , composite material , macroeconomics
Lay Abstract Marine aggregates reside from hours to days at pycnoclines, or density discontinuities, forming layers of dense aggregate populations. During their retention, aggregates have the opportunity to accumulate solute contents, such as dissolved organic carbon, nitrate, and ammonium. This excess solute will then be released after they leave the pycnoclines. The back‐migration of the solute into pycnoclines or its export to the deep ocean has a large impact on the ecology of the ocean. We investigated the time scale of dynamic solute leakage from marine aggregates and the maximum export depth. Numerical modeling revealed in a new relationship for the dynamic solute release as a function of aggregates' size and excess density. This may improve estimates of solute flux around pycnoclines from the distribution spectrum of aggregates' sizes and excess densities.