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Distribution of 32 Si in the world ocean: Model compared to observation
Author(s) -
Peng TsungHung,
MaierReimer Ernst,
Broecker Wallace S.
Publication year - 1993
Publication title -
global biogeochemical cycles
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.512
H-Index - 187
eISSN - 1944-9224
pISSN - 0886-6236
DOI - 10.1029/93gb00686
Subject(s) - upwelling , deep sea , isotope , oceanography , pacific ocean , geology , environmental science , mineralogy , physics , nuclear physics
Calculations of the 32 Si/SiO 2 ratio obtained in ocean models are compared with measurements of this ratio made as part of the GEOSECS program (Somayajulu et al., 1987, 1991). A major difference is found; while the models predict threefold to fivefold higher ratios in the deep Atlantic Ocean than in the deep Pacific and Indian oceans, no such difference is seen in the measurements. This points to a flaw in the measurements. Our modeling results suggest that the most interesting application for this 120‐year half‐life cosmogenic isotope is as a monitor of upwelling. However, considering the expense and difficulty associated with 32 Si measurements, such studies may prove impractical.