Marine snow: sinking rates and potential role in vertical flux

Shanks, Alan L.; Trent, Jonathan D.

doi:10.1016/0198-0149(80)90092-8

Cited by 302 publications

(128 citation statements)

References 20 publications

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“…Numerous measurements of marine snow sinking rates suggest that the aggregated particles sink rapidly at velocities ranging between 1 and 368 m d-l (Alldredge and Silver 1988). On the basis of these measurements, the residence time of marine snow in the surface layer would only be on the order of hours (Shanks and Trent 1980). On the other hand, several studies have emphasized the importance of marine snow particles as sites of primary production (e.g.…”

Section: Formationmentioning

confidence: 99%

The formation of large marine snow and its sustained residence in surface waters

Riebesell

1992

Limnology & Oceanography

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The formation of large marine snow macroflocs and stringers was monitored at a fixed station in the southern North Sea. During an 18-month investigation, large marine snow floes occurred in the water column on nine occasions for periods lasting between 5 and 16 d. Their formation coincided with both high phytoplankton biomass and low windspeeds. Retention of marine snow in the surface layer was related to slow sinking, neutral buoyancy, and rising of the large floes. Applying a specially developed instrument showed buoyancy to be caused by gas bubbles incorporated in the floes. Marine snow flotation coincided with periods of oxygen supersaturation in the water column, suggesting that oxygen production could be responsible for gas bubble formation within the floes. Disappearance of the large marine snow floes from the surface layer coincided with drastic increases in windspeed, indicating that enhanced wind-induced turbulent mixing in the surface layer could have resulted in the breakup of these floes. Formation and disappearance of marine snow had a marked influence on the light regime in the water.

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Section: Formationmentioning

confidence: 99%

The formation of large marine snow and its sustained residence in surface waters

Riebesell

1992

Limnology & Oceanography

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“…While the origin of these aggregates is not fully understood, they are believed to come from the disintegration of fragile fecal pellets or other particulate organic matter (zooplankton fragments, free algal cells, pigmented granules, and waxy particles) (Honjo et al, 1982a). Laboratory experiments indicate that the sinking rate of amorphous aggregates (ranging from 10 to 100 mjday) is equivalent to that of middlesized fecal pellets (Bishop et al, 1977;Shanks and Trent, 1980;Alldredge and Cox, 1982).…”

Section: The Fate Of Coccoliths Suspended At Depthmentioning

confidence: 99%

Calcareous nannoplankton biocoenosis : sediment trap studies in the equatorial Atlantic, central Pacific, and Panama Basin

Steinmetz¹

1991

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“…Aggregates are greatly enriched in DOM and inorganic products of remineralisation and dissolution such as phosphate and silicate (Shanks and Trent, 1979;Alldredge, 2000;Brzezinski et al, 1997;see Simon et al, 2002 for a summary). A substantial fraction of the dissolved loads leave the aggregates within the euphotic zone (Kiørboe et al, 2001).…”

Section: Aggregates As "Carriers" Of Dissolved Elementsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Solubilization of particles in sediment traps: revising the stoichiometry of mixed layer export

Antia¹

2005

Biogeosciences

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Abstract. Sinking particles, once caught in sediment trap jars, release dissolved elements into the surrounding medium through leaching from their pore fluids, chemical dissolution and the activity of free exoenzymes. This results in an increase in dissolved elements in the trap jar supernatant. Elemental fluxes as traditionally measured by sediment traps underestimate total export when this particle-associated dissolved flux is not considered. The errors introduced are variable and alter both the absolute levels of flux as well as the stoichiometry of export. These errors have been quantified and corrections applied for samples from sediment traps in the North Atlantic based on measurements of excess dissolved carbon, nitrogen, phosphorus, silica and calcium in the supernatant of the collection cups. At the base of the winter mixed layer, on average 90±6% of phosphorus fluxes are found as excess phosphate whereas for carbon and nitrogen dissolved concentrations account for 30 (±8)% and 47(±11)% of total fluxes respectively. Excess dissolved silica is on average 61 (±17)% of total biogenic silica flux. Little (<10%) of calcium is solubilized. The proportion of dissolved to total flux decreases with trap deployment depth. Calculations of the C:N:P ratios for particles only are well above the Redfield ratios of 106:16:1 (Redfield et al., 1963), although the mid-water dissolved N:P and N:Si values as well as the C:N:P ratios of remineralisation along isopycnals conform to the Redfield ratios at this site. Accounting for dissolved fluxes of all these elements brings the stoichiometry of export in agreement with the Redfield Ratio and with other geochemical estimates of winter mixed layer export. A factor of 3 to 4 higher ratios of organic: inorganic carbon export also implies that the net atmospheric CO 2 sequestration by the biological pump is about 50% higher at this site when the dissolved elemental fluxes are considered. Solubilization is thus a process that should be accounted for in protocols used to measure vertical fluxes with sediment traps.

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Marine snow: sinking rates and potential role in vertical flux

Cited by 302 publications

References 20 publications

The formation of large marine snow and its sustained residence in surface waters

The formation of large marine snow and its sustained residence in surface waters

Calcareous nannoplankton biocoenosis : sediment trap studies in the equatorial Atlantic, central Pacific, and Panama Basin

Solubilization of particles in sediment traps: revising the stoichiometry of mixed layer export

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