{"id":272689,"date":"2021-06-11T17:32:13","date_gmt":"2021-06-11T14:32:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/en.buradabiliyorum.com\/particles-at-the-ocean-surface-and-seafloor-arent-so-different\/"},"modified":"2021-06-11T17:32:13","modified_gmt":"2021-06-11T14:32:13","slug":"particles-at-the-ocean-surface-and-seafloor-arent-so-different","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/particles-at-the-ocean-surface-and-seafloor-arent-so-different\/","title":{"rendered":"#Particles at the ocean surface and seafloor aren’t so different"},"content":{"rendered":"

“#Particles at the ocean surface and seafloor aren’t so different<\/strong>”<\/p>\n

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\"Particles
\n An Oceanic Flux Program time series<\/a> sediment trap deployed at 3,200-meter depth comes on board the R\/V Atlantic Explorer. Credit: J. C. Weber
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Although scientists often assume that random variations in scientific data fit symmetrical, bell-shaped normal distributions, nature isn’t always so tidy. In some cases, a skewed distribution, like the log-normal probability distribution<\/a>, provides a better fit. Researchers previously found that primary production by ocean phytoplankton and carbon export via particles sinking from the surface are consistent with log-normal distributions.<\/p>\n

In a new study, Cael et al. discovered that fluxes at the seafloor also fit log-normal distributions. The team analyzed data from deep-sea sediment traps at six different sites, representing diverse nutrient and oxygen statuses. They found that the log-normal distribution didn’t just fit organic carbon flux; it provided a simple scaling relationship for calcium carbonate and opal fluxes as well.<\/p>\n

Uncovering the log-normal distribution enabled the researchers to tackle a longstanding question: Do nutrients reach the benthos\u2014life at the seafloor\u2014via irregular pulses or a constant rain of particles? The team examined the shape of the distribution and found that 29% of the highest measurements accounted for 71% of the organic carbon flux at the seafloor, which is less imbalanced than the 80:20 benchmark specified by the Pareto principle. Thus, although high-flux pulses do likely provide nutrients to the benthos, they aren’t the dominant source.<\/p>\n

The findings will provide a simple way for researchers to explore additional links between net primary production at the ocean surface and deep-sea flux.<\/p>\n\n

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Fishes contribute roughly 1.65 billion tons of carbon in feces and other matter annually\n <\/p><\/div>\n

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\n More information:<\/strong>
\n B. B. Cael et al, Open Ocean Particle Flux Variability From Surface to Seafloor, Geophysical Research Letters<\/i> (2021). DOI: 10.1029\/2021GL092895<\/a>
\nB. B. Cael et al, Can Rates of Ocean Primary Production and Biological Carbon Export Be Related Through Their Probability Distributions?, Global Biogeochemical Cycles<\/i> (2018). DOI: 10.1029\/2017GB005797<\/a><\/p><\/div>\n

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Citation<\/strong>:
\n Particles at the ocean surface and seafloor aren’t so different (2021, June 11)
\n retrieved 11 June 2021
\n from https:\/\/phys.org\/news<\/a>\/2021-06-particles-ocean-surface-seafloor.html<\/p>\n

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\n part may be reproduced without the written permission. The content is provided for information purposes only.<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n