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Evidence of old carbon in the deep water column of the Panama Basin from natural radiocarbon measurements
Author(s) -
Druffel Ellen R. M.,
Griffin Sheila,
Honjo Susumu,
Manganini Steven J.
Publication year - 1998
Publication title -
geophysical research letters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.007
H-Index - 273
eISSN - 1944-8007
pISSN - 0094-8276
DOI - 10.1029/98gl01157
Subject(s) - dissolved organic carbon , particulates , sediment , radiocarbon dating , geology , oceanography , total organic carbon , carbon fibers , sediment trap , water column , surface water , panama , hydrology (agriculture) , organic matter , total inorganic carbon , deep water , environmental science , environmental chemistry , geomorphology , carbon dioxide , chemistry , paleontology , ecology , materials science , composite number , composite material , biology , geotechnical engineering , organic chemistry , environmental engineering
Radiocarbon (Δ 14 C) analyses were performed on sinking and suspended particulate matter, dissolved inorganic carbon (DIC), sediment and sediment fluff from a deep‐water station in the Panama Basin. Δ 14 C signatures for sinking particulate inorganic and organic carbon (PIC, FOC) collected at 3354 meters depth were lower than surface DIC Δ 14 C values, and higher than the inorganic and organic carbon from the sediment (SIC, SOC). We compare these data with those obtained for other Pacific and Atlantic sites and show that the gradient between surface DIC Δ 14 C and deep suspended POC Δ 14 C is the same irrespective of distance from the coast. This indicates that: 1) resuspended SOC is an equally important contributor to deep POC at locations close to and far from continental slopes, and/or 2) DOC sorption is a significant contributor for causing low Δ 14 C values of deep POC.