Temporal Variability of δ13C and Δ14C in Sinking POC at a Deep Time-Series Station in the Northeast Pacific Ocean
Abstract
δ13C and Δ14C were measured on sinking particulate organic carbon (POC) collected at station M in the Northeast Pacific (at 3450 m depth, 650 m above bottom, 34°50'N, 123°00'W). Data for 6 years are presented with other properties such as organic carbon flux, C to N mole ratios.
δ13C values help us understand processes that change the properties of sinking POC such as primary productivity in surface water and input of terrestrial organic carbon. Δ14C values provide complimentary information such as incorporation of older carbon from dissolved organic carbon (DOC) because their Δ14C signatures are different. δ13C values of sinking POC vary by about 2.5 ‰ with the median value of -22.2‰ . In general they seem to show a correlation with organic carbon flux, hence the primary productivity in surface water. Δ14C values vary between -40 and +40 ‰ , and the variability does not seem to be controlled by one major process. The correlations between carbon isotope ratios and other parameters such as primary productivity, incorporation of DOC or suspended POC, input of terrestrial organic carbon, and river discharge from the California coast, will be discussed in detail.- Publication:
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AGU Fall Meeting Abstracts
- Pub Date:
- December 2002
- Bibcode:
- 2002AGUFMOS21B0201H
- Keywords:
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- 4805 Biogeochemical cycles (1615);
- 4806 Carbon cycling