Interactions of Biogenic Opal, Sediment, and Seawater in the Central Equatorial Pacific,

Abstract

Studies of dissolved silica concentrations and gradients in the interstitial waters of modern deep-sea sediments reveal much about the chemical reactions of biogenic opal, and of silicate mineral in general. They also further test the validity of models that have been proposed concerning long-term pH and dissolved silica control in the oceans. Thus the authors studied the solution rate of biogenic opal in near-surface sediments in the Central Equatorial Pacific. The scale height of the system studied suggests that diffusive and not advective processes are primarily responsible for the removal of dissolved silica in sediments. Solution budget calculations are reported.

Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Dec 01, 1972
Accession Number
AD0755115

Entities

People

  • David Crockett Hurd

Tags

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Chemical Reactions
  • Minerals
  • Sediments

Fields of Study

  • Environmental science

Readers

  • Marine Ecotoxicology
  • Materials Science and Engineering.
  • Oceanography.