Abstract
A simple advection-diffusion model is applied to the deep water of the North Pacific Ocean. The physical mixing parameter, i.e., the ratio of vertical advection velocity (W) to vertical eddy diffusivity (D), is obtained from the vertical distribution of a conservative property such as salinity. The rate of decomposition of organic matter is estimated from the oxygen consumption rate which is obtained from dissolved oxygen content. The calcium carbonate flux in the deep water is obtained from alkalinity. Using these values and the vertical distribution of a radioisotope,14C or226Ra, the vertical eddy diffusivity and the upwelling velocity are found to be 1.2 cm2/sec and 1.4 ×10−5 cm/sec, respectively, at the Geosecs 1969 station. The oxygen consumption rate at 3 km depth of the station is found to be 1.4×10−3ml/l/yr.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Robinson, A., andH. Stommel (1959): The oceanic thermocline and the associated thermohaline circulation. Tellus,11, 295–308.
Koczy, F. F. (1956): Vertical eddy diffusion in deep water. Nature,178, 585–586.
Munk, W. H. (1966): Abyssal recipes. Deep-Sea Res.,13, 707–730.
Bien, G. S., N. W. Rakestraw, andH. E. Suess (1965): Radiocarbon in the Pacific and Indian oceans and its relation to deep water movements. Limnol. Oceanog.,10, suppl, R25-R37.
Craig, H. (1969): Abyssal carbon and radiocarbon in the Pacific. J. Geophys. Res.74, 5491–5506.
Miyake, Y., K. Saruhashi, Y. Katsuragi, andT. Kanazawa (1962): Penetration of90Sr and137Cs in deep layers of the Pacific and vertical diffusion rate of deep water. J. Radiation Res.,3, 141–147.
Miyake, Y. andK. Saruhashi (1966): On the radio-carbon age of the ocean waters. Pap. Met. Geophys.,17, 218–223.
Wyrtki, K. (1962): The oxygen minima in relation to ocean circulation. Deep-Sea Res.,9, 11–23.
Horibe, Y. (ed.) (1970): Preliminary report of the Hakuho Maru Cruise KH-68-4. Ocean Research Institute, University of Tokyo, 169 p.
Tsunogai, S. (1972): An estimate of the rate of decomposition of organic matter in the deep water of the Pacific Ocean. In T.Kawamura (Chief ed.), “Biological Oceanography of the Northern North Pacific Ocean” Prof. Motoda's Commemoration Volume, pp. 517–533.
Berner, R. A. (1965): Activity coefficients of bicarbonate, carbonate and calcium ions in sea water. Geochim. Cosmochim. Acta,29, 947–965.
Li, Y. H., T. Takahashi andW. S. Broecker (1969): The degree of saturation of CaCO3 in the oceans. J. Geophys. Res.,74, 5507–5525.
Redfield, A. C., B. H. Ketchum, andF. A. Richards (1963): The influence of organisms on the composition of sea water, pp. 26–77.In M. N. Hill (ed.), The Sea. Vol. 2. Interscience, New York.
Ostlund, H. G. andS. Niskin (1970): Radiocarbon profile in the North Pacific 1969 Geosecs intercalibration station. J. Geophys. Res.,75, 7667.
Craig, H. andR. F. Weiss (1970): The Geosecs 1969 intercalibration station: Introduction, hydrographic features and total CO2-O2 relationships. J. Geophys. Res.,75, 7641–7647.
Takahashi, T., R. F. Weiss, C. H. Culberson, J. M. Edmond, D. E. Hammond, C. S. Wong, Y. H. Li andA. E. Bainbridge (1970): A carbonate chemistry profile at the 1969 Geosecs intercalibration station in the eastern Pacific Ocean. J. Geophys. Res.,75, 7648–7666.
Koczy, F. F. andH. Titze (1958): Radium content of carbonate shells. J. Mar. Res.,17, 302–311.
Szabo, B. J. (1967): Radium content in plankton and sea water in the Bahamas. Geochim. Cosmochim. Acta,31, 1321–1331.
Broecker, W., A. Kaufman, T. L. Ku.Y. C. Chung andH. Craig (1970): Radium 226 measurements from the 1969 North Pacific Geosecs station. J. Geophys. Res.,75, 7682–7685.
Broecker, W. S., Y. H. Li, andJ. Cromwell (1967): Radium 226 and radon 222: Concentration in Atlantic and Pacific oceans. Science,158, 1307–1310.
Reid, J. L., H. Stommel, E. D. Stroup andB. A. Warren (1968): Detection of a deep boundary current in the western South Pacific. Nature,217, 937.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Tsunogai, S. An estimate of the vertical diffusivity of the deep water. Journal of the Oceanographical Society of Japan 28, 145–152 (1972). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02108758
Received:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02108758