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

摘要

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.