Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Cycles of chemical substances in the atmosphere, the Sea and the sea-floor

Lecture by the member awarded the oceanographical society of Japan prize for 1984-

  • Published:
Journal of the Oceanographical Society of Japan Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Since 1960 when I was a senior student, I have studied natural phenomena observed in the hydrosphere and atmosphere by means of chemical elements. Each of the phenomena is, in general, very complicated and so I have attempted to depict the whole picture of material circulation in the marine environment by studying its various aspects at the same time. My chief strategy has been to use natural radio-nuclides as clocks of various phenomena, and to use sediment traps for the determination of vertical fluxes in the ocean. The many results I have obtained can be summarized as follows.

1. I have found that several sporadic events control the material exchange through the atmosphere. These include the strong winter monsoon and typhoons that transport sea-salt particles to the Japanese Islands, theKosa episodes that transport soil dust to the ocean, and storms that result in exchange of sparingly soluble gases such as oxygen and carbon dioxide at the air-sea interface. I have also proved quantitatively that the source of aluminosilicate material in pelagic sediments is air-borne dust.

2. I have proposed a model,Settling model, for the removal of chemical substances from the ocean and found various lines of evidence supporting the model. This model predicts the reversibility in the existing state of insoluble chemical elements in seawater among large settling particles, small suspended particles and colloidal particles that pass through a membrane filter and explains well their behavior in the ocean. I have first precisely measured calcium and iodine in the ocean and have explained their distributions on the basis of the solution and redox equilibria.

3. Using chemical tracers, I have estimated the vertical eddy diffusion coefficients to be 1.2 cm2sec−1 for the Pacific deep water, 0.5 cm2sec−1 for the deep Bering Sea water and 3–80 cm2sec−1 for the Pacific surface water, and have studied the structure of water masses in the western North Pacific and the Sea of Japan. I have also invented and applied a method for the calculation of the age of deep waters using radiocarbon.

4. I have calculated the rates of decomposition of organic matter and the regeneration rates of chemical components in the deep and bottom waters as well as coastal waters by modelling water circulation and mixing. Particulate fluxes and regeneration rates are larger in the deep waters beneath the more biologically productive surface waters. I have stressed the role of silicate in the marine ecosystem, especially in the succession of phytoplankton species.

5. I have quantitatively studied the migration of chemical elements during the early diagenesis of bottom sediments especially manganese using chemical and radiochemical techniques. Manganese is being actively recycled not only in coastal seas but also in pelagic sediments except in the highly oligotrophic subtropical ocean. This recycling can explain the formation of manganese nodules and enables us to balance the manganese budget in the ocean.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Fukuda, K. and S. Tsunogai (1975): Pb-210 in precipitation in Japan and its implication for the transport of continental aerosols across the ocean. Tellus,27, 514–521.

    Google Scholar 

  • Minagawa, M. and S. Tsunogai (1980): Removal of Th-234 from coastal sea, Funka Bay, Japan. Earth Planet. Sci. Lett.,47, 51–64.

    Google Scholar 

  • Miyake, Y. and S. Tsunogai (1963): Evaporation of iodine from the ocean. J. Geophys. Res.,68, 3989–3993.

    Google Scholar 

  • Miyake, Y. and S. Tsunogai (1965): Chemical composition of oceanic rain. Proc. Intern. Conf. Cloud Phys. Tokyo and Sapporo 1965, 73–78 & Supplement 26.

  • Nozaki, Y. and S. Tsunogai (1973a): A simultaneous determination of lead-210 and polonium-210 in sea water. Anal. Chem. Acta,64, 209–216.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Nozaki, Y. and S. Tsunogai (1973b): Lead-210 in the North Pacific and transport of terrestrial materials through the atmosphere. Earth Planet. Sci. Lett.,20, 88–92.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Nozaki, Y., S. Tsunogai and M. Nishimura (1973c): Lead-210 in the Japan Sea. J. Oceanogr. Soc. Japan,29, 251–256.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Nozaki, Y. and S. Tsunogai (1976): Ra-226, Pb-210 and Po-210 disequilibria in the western North Pacific. Earth Planet. Sci. Lett.,32, 313–321.

    Google Scholar 

  • Tanaka, N. and S. Tsunogai (1983a): Behavior of Be-7 in Funka Bay, Japan, with reference to those of insoluble nuclides, Th-234, Po-210 and Pb-210. Geochem. J.,17, 9–17.

    Google Scholar 

  • Tanaka, N., Y. Takeda and S. Tsunogai (1983b): Biological effect on removal of Th-234, Po-210 and Pb-210 from surface water studied in Funka Bay, Japan. Geochim. Cosmochim. Acta,47, 1783–1790.

    Google Scholar 

  • Tsunogai, S. (1966): Chemical study of precipitation: Concentrations, fall rates and sources of chemical constituents in precipitation and airborne dust. Thesis for the degree of doctor of science submitted to Tokyo Kyoiku University, pp. 226.

  • Tsunogai, S. and K. Ikeuchi (1968a): Ammonia in the atmosphere. Geochem. J.,2, 157–166.

    Google Scholar 

  • Tsunogai, S., M. Nishimura and S. Nakaya (1968b): Complexometric titration of calcium in the presence of larger amounts of magnesium. Talanta,15, 385–390.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Tsunogai, S., M. Nishimura and S. Nakaya (1968c): Calcium and magnesium in sea water and the ratio of calcium to chlorinity as a tracer of water-masses. J. Oceanogr. Soc. Japan,24, 153–159.

    Google Scholar 

  • Tsunogai, S. and T. Sase (1969): Formation of iodide-iodine in the ocean. Deep-Sea Res.,16, 489–496.

    Google Scholar 

  • Tsunogai, S. (1971a): Determination of iodine in sea water by an improved Sugawara's method. Anal. Chim. Acta,55, 444–447.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Tsunogai, S. (1971b): Iodine in the deep water of the ocean. Deep-Sea Res.,18, 913–919.

    Google Scholar 

  • Tsunogai, S. (1971c): Ammonia in the oceanic atmosphere and the cycle of nitrogen compounds through the atmosphere and the hydrosphere. Geochem. J.,5, 57–67.

    Google Scholar 

  • Tsunogai, S. (1971d): Oxidation rate of sulfite in water and its bearings on origin of sulfate in meteoric precipitation. Geochem. J.,5, 175–185.

    Google Scholar 

  • Tsunogai, S. and T. Henmi (1971e): Iodine in the surface water of the ocean. J. Oceanogr. Soc. Japan,27, 67–72.

    Google Scholar 

  • Tsunogai, S. and Y. Nozaki (1971f): Lead-210 and polonium-210 in the surface water of the Pacific. Geochem. J.,5, 165–173.

    Google Scholar 

  • Tsunogai, S., T. Yamazaki and M. Nishimura (1971g): Calcium in the Antarctic Ocean. J. Oceanogr. Soc. Japan,27, 191–196.

    Google Scholar 

  • Tsunogai, S. (1972b): An estimate of the rate of decomposition of organic matter in the deep water of the Pacific. In: Biological Oceanography of the Northern North Pacific Ocean; dedicated to Dr. S. Motoda, A. Y. Takenouti (chief ed.), Idemitsu Shoten (Tokyo). pp. 517–533.

  • Tsunogai, S., O. Saito, K. Yamada and S. Nakaya (1972c): Chemical composition of oceanic aerosol. J. Geophys. Res.,77, 5283–5292.

    Google Scholar 

  • Tsunogai, S., E. Matsumoto, K. Kido, Y. Nozaki and A. Hattori (1973a): Two discontinuities in the deep water of the western North Pacific Ocean. Deep-Sea Res.,20, 527–536.

    Google Scholar 

  • Tsunogai, S., H. Yamahata, S. Kudo and O. Saito (1973b): Calcium in the Pacific Ocean. Deep-Sea Res.,20, 717–726.

    Google Scholar 

  • Tsunogai, S. and K. Fukuda (1974a): Pb-210, Bi-210 and Po-210 in meteoric precipitation and the residence time of tropospheric aerosol. Geochem. J.,8, 141–152.

    Google Scholar 

  • Tsunogai, S., Y. Nozaki, M. Minagawa and S. Yamamoto (1974b): Behavior of particulate material in the ocean studied by inorganic and radioactive tracers. In: Oceanography of the Bering Sea, ed. by D. W. Hood and E. J. Kelly, Mar. Sci. Occas. Publ., No. 2, Univ. Alaska, pp. 175–189.

  • Tsunogai, S., Y. Nozaki and M. Minagawa (1974c): Behavior of heavy metals and particulate matters in seawater expected from that of radioactive nuclides. J. Oceanogr. Soc. Japan,30, 251–259.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Tsunogai, S. (1975a): Sea salt particles transported to the land. Tellus,27, 51–58.

    Google Scholar 

  • Tsunogai, S., K. Fukuda and S. Nakaya (1975b); A chemical study of snow formation in the winter-monsoon season: The contribution of aerosols and water vapor from the continent. J. Meteor. Soc. Japan,53, 203–213.

    Google Scholar 

  • Tsunogai, S. (1978b): Application of settling model to the vertical transport of soluble elements in the ocean. Geochem. J.,12, 81–88.

    Google Scholar 

  • Tsunogai, S. and M. Minagawa (1978c): Settling model for the removal of insoluble chemical elements in seawater. Geochem. J.,21, 47–56.

    Google Scholar 

  • Tsunogai, S. and M. Uematsu (1978d): Particulate manganese, iron and aluminum in coastal water, Funka Bay, Japan. Geochem. J.,12, 39–46.

    Google Scholar 

  • Tsunogai, S. (1979a): Pb-210 and atmospheric residence times. In: Preprints of Papers Presented at the 177th National Meeting. Honolulu, Apr. 1979, Div. Environ. Chem., American Chemical Society,19, No. 1, 389–392.

  • Tsunogai, S. and M. Yamada (1979c): Ra-226 in Bering Sea sediment and its application as a geochronometer. Geochem. J.13, 231–238.

    Google Scholar 

  • Tsunogai, S., M. Kusakabe, H. Iizumi, I. Koike and A. Hattori (1979d): Hydrographic features of the deep water of the Bering Sea—‘The Sea of Silica’. Deep-Sea Res.,26, 641–659.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Tsunogai, S., I. Yonemaru and M. Kusakabe (1979e): Post depositional migration of Cu, Zn, Ni, Co, Pb and Ba in deep sea sediments. Geochem. J.,13, 239–252.

    Google Scholar 

  • Tsunogai, S. and K. Harada (1980b): Ra-226 and Pb-210 in the western North Pacific. In: Isotope Marine Chemistry (Miyake Volume), ed. by E D. Goldberg, Y. Horibe and K. Saruhashi, Uchida Rokakuho (Tokyo), pp. 183–209.

  • Tsunogai, S. and N. Tanaka (1980c): Flux of oxygen across the air-sea interface as determined by the analysis of dissolved components in sea water. Geochem. J.,14, 227–234.

    Google Scholar 

  • Tsunogai, S. and M. Yamada (1980d): A radiochemically studied sediment core from the Philippine Sea basin indicating no accumulation during the past few hundred thousand years. Geochem. J.,14, 19–26.

    Google Scholar 

  • Tsunogai, S., M. Uematsu, N. Tanaka, K. Harada E. Tanoue and N. Handa (1980e): A sediment trap experiment in Funka Bay, Japan: “Upward flux” of particulate matter in seawater. Mar. Chem.,9, 321–334.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Tsunogai, S. and Y. Watanabe (1981b): Ca in the North Pacific water and the effect of organic matter on the Ca-alkalinity relation. Geochem. J.,15, 95–107.

    Google Scholar 

  • Tsunogai, S. and T. Kondo (1982a): Sporadic transport and deposition of continental aerosols to the Pacific Ocean. J. Geophys. Res.,87, 8870–8874.

    Google Scholar 

  • Tsunogai, S. and M. Kusakabe (1982b): Migration of manganese in the deep sea sediment. In: The Dynamic Environment of the Ocean Floor, ed. by K. A. Fanning and F. T. Manheim, D. C. Heath (Lexington), pp. 257–273.

  • Tsunogai, S., K. Nakanishi and M. Yamada (1982c): Effect of diagenetically remobilized metals on the regional difference in manganese nodules. Geochem. J.,16, 199–212.

    Google Scholar 

  • Tsunogai, S., M. Uematsu, S. Noriki, N. Tanaka and M. Yamada (1982d): Sediment trap experiment in the northern North Pacific: Undulation of settling particles. Geochem. J.,16, 129–147.

    Google Scholar 

  • Tsunogai, S. and Y. Watanabe (1983b): Role of dissolved silicate in the occurrence of phytoplankton bloom. J. Oceanogr. Soc. Japan,39, 231–239.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Uematsu, M. and S. Tsunogai (1983): Recycling of manganese in the coastal sea, Funka Bay, Japan. Mar. Chem.,13, 1–14.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Watanabe, Y. and S. Tsunogai (1984): Adsorption-desorption control of phosphate in anoxic sediment of coastal sea, Funka Bay, Japan. Mar. Chem.,15, in press.

  • Yamada, Y., H. Kitaoka and S. Tsunogai (1983): Radiochemical study of sedimentation onto the Japan trench floor. Deep-Sea Res.,30, 1147–1156.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Yamada, Y. and S. Tsunogai (1984): Post depositional enrichment of uranium in sediment from the Bering Sea. Mar. Geol.,54, 263–276.

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Fisheries, Hokkaido University, 041, Hakodate, Japan

    Shizuo Tsunogai

Authors
  1. Shizuo Tsunogai
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Tsunogai, S. Cycles of chemical substances in the atmosphere, the Sea and the sea-floor. Journal of the Oceanographical Society of Japan 40, 314–322 (1984). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02302524

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02302524

Keywords

Search

Navigation