Out of Context Tracers in the Sea
@tracers-in-the-sea.bsky.social
I am a good bot posting excerpts from the seminal text by W.S. Broecker and T-H Peng for you. Many oceanographers started their journey of ocean discovery with this text
🌊🧪 These high concentrations are maintained by intense upwelling. One might ask why it is opal-producing plants that dwell in these areas of intense upwelling and not, for example, calcite-producing plants. The answer to this question, like most of those regarding ecological interactions, is
December 1, 2025 at 6:56 PM
🌊🧪 These high concentrations are maintained by intense upwelling. One might ask why it is opal-producing plants that dwell in these areas of intense upwelling and not, for example, calcite-producing plants. The answer to this question, like most of those regarding ecological interactions, is
🌊🧪 As long as they remain dissolved, gravity cannot influence them. - Broecker and Peng (1982), Tracers in the Sea
December 1, 2025 at 6:57 AM
🌊🧪 As long as they remain dissolved, gravity cannot influence them. - Broecker and Peng (1982), Tracers in the Sea
🌊🧪 The salt dissolved in sea water is remarkably uniform in its major constituents. - Broecker and Peng (1982), Tracers in the Sea
November 30, 2025 at 6:56 PM
🌊🧪 The salt dissolved in sea water is remarkably uniform in its major constituents. - Broecker and Peng (1982), Tracers in the Sea
🌊🧪 Of this some is rejected in fecal pellets which fall toward the sea floor. - Broecker and Peng (1982), Tracers in the Sea
November 30, 2025 at 6:57 AM
🌊🧪 Of this some is rejected in fecal pellets which fall toward the sea floor. - Broecker and Peng (1982), Tracers in the Sea
🌊🧪 So also do sediments nearly free of both of these phases. The abundance of these phases at any point on the sea floor reflects both their rate of production in the overlying water column and the extent to which they are subjected to solution on the sea floor. Since both the rate of
November 29, 2025 at 6:56 PM
🌊🧪 So also do sediments nearly free of both of these phases. The abundance of these phases at any point on the sea floor reflects both their rate of production in the overlying water column and the extent to which they are subjected to solution on the sea floor. Since both the rate of
🌊🧪 Thus, unlike the distribution of opal in sediments, which reflects mainly the great contrast in opal production from place to place at the sea surface, the distribution of calcite reflects contrasts in the extent of solution with depth in the sea. - Broecker and Peng (1982), Tracers in the
November 29, 2025 at 6:57 AM
🌊🧪 Thus, unlike the distribution of opal in sediments, which reflects mainly the great contrast in opal production from place to place at the sea surface, the distribution of calcite reflects contrasts in the extent of solution with depth in the sea. - Broecker and Peng (1982), Tracers in the
🌊🧪 It is of interest to note that while 80% of the phosphorus leaves the ocean with biological remains (in keeping with our first-order model), half of this phosphorus is bound in CaCO₃ rather than in organic tissue. - Broecker and Peng (1982), Tracers in the Sea
November 28, 2025 at 6:55 PM
🌊🧪 It is of interest to note that while 80% of the phosphorus leaves the ocean with biological remains (in keeping with our first-order model), half of this phosphorus is bound in CaCO₃ rather than in organic tissue. - Broecker and Peng (1982), Tracers in the Sea
🌊🧪 So-called authigenic minerals in sediments are formed by spontaneous crystallization within the sediment or water column. They make up only a small fraction of the total sediment. The most important of these is the iron-manganese oxide material in sediments formed through the reduction of
November 28, 2025 at 6:57 AM
🌊🧪 So-called authigenic minerals in sediments are formed by spontaneous crystallization within the sediment or water column. They make up only a small fraction of the total sediment. The most important of these is the iron-manganese oxide material in sediments formed through the reduction of
🌊🧪 Upon total depletion of N and P only 131 (13 percent) of the 1000 C atoms originally present in deep sea water are used to form organic tissue and CaCO3. - Broecker and Peng (1982), Tracers in the Sea
November 27, 2025 at 6:56 PM
🌊🧪 Upon total depletion of N and P only 131 (13 percent) of the 1000 C atoms originally present in deep sea water are used to form organic tissue and CaCO3. - Broecker and Peng (1982), Tracers in the Sea
🌊🧪 Thus, at this point, the worms appear to have the upper hand. If each year worm nudges were to lift a nodule 3 microns, then in a million years it would be raised by the required 3 meters! Unfortunately, we have no worm nudge tracers. So the puzzle remains an annoyance to those who study
November 27, 2025 at 6:57 AM
🌊🧪 Thus, at this point, the worms appear to have the upper hand. If each year worm nudges were to lift a nodule 3 microns, then in a million years it would be raised by the required 3 meters! Unfortunately, we have no worm nudge tracers. So the puzzle remains an annoyance to those who study
🌊🧪 The sea is a way station for the products of continental erosion. - Broecker and Peng (1982), Tracers in the Sea
November 26, 2025 at 6:55 PM
🌊🧪 The sea is a way station for the products of continental erosion. - Broecker and Peng (1982), Tracers in the Sea
🌊🧪 Having made note of the artifacts of his forefathers' arrival, he ponders the number of bodies he uncovered during his digging. He correctly calculates that, as his trench covers 0.1% of the area of the colony, 10 people should on an average be living within its bounds at any one time. The
November 26, 2025 at 6:57 AM
🌊🧪 Having made note of the artifacts of his forefathers' arrival, he ponders the number of bodies he uncovered during his digging. He correctly calculates that, as his trench covers 0.1% of the area of the colony, 10 people should on an average be living within its bounds at any one time. The
🌊🧪 Others show very large changes in concentration from place to place. - Broecker and Peng (1982), Tracers in the Sea
November 25, 2025 at 6:56 PM
🌊🧪 Others show very large changes in concentration from place to place. - Broecker and Peng (1982), Tracers in the Sea
🌊🧪 The differences in the vertical and horizontal distributions of these constituents are the result of differences in the depth to which the various particulate phases fall before being returned to solution. Some of these species are totally depleted in warm surface water; others are only
November 25, 2025 at 6:57 AM
🌊🧪 The differences in the vertical and horizontal distributions of these constituents are the result of differences in the depth to which the various particulate phases fall before being returned to solution. Some of these species are totally depleted in warm surface water; others are only
🌊🧪 All plants and animals produce organic tissue. - Broecker and Peng (1982), Tracers in the Sea
November 24, 2025 at 6:56 PM
🌊🧪 All plants and animals produce organic tissue. - Broecker and Peng (1982), Tracers in the Sea
🌊🧪 For every atom of P in the deep ocean there are about 50 atoms of Si. - Broecker and Peng (1982), Tracers in the Sea
November 24, 2025 at 6:57 AM
🌊🧪 For every atom of P in the deep ocean there are about 50 atoms of Si. - Broecker and Peng (1982), Tracers in the Sea
🌊🧪 DISTRIBUTION OF OPAL PRODUCTION - The abundance pattern of opal in deep-sea sediments is closely related to the pattern of productivity of diatoms and radiolarians in the overlying waters. As shown in Figure 2-2, high opal contents are found around the perimeter of the Antarctic continent,
November 23, 2025 at 6:55 PM
🌊🧪 DISTRIBUTION OF OPAL PRODUCTION - The abundance pattern of opal in deep-sea sediments is closely related to the pattern of productivity of diatoms and radiolarians in the overlying waters. As shown in Figure 2-2, high opal contents are found around the perimeter of the Antarctic continent,
🌊🧪 The belts and escalators represent the organized flow of water, and the wandering of the people is the turbulent mixing superimposed on this organized flow. Although not perfect, this analogy does capture the important factors influencing the distribution of nutrients in the sea. -
November 23, 2025 at 6:57 AM
🌊🧪 The belts and escalators represent the organized flow of water, and the wandering of the people is the turbulent mixing superimposed on this organized flow. Although not perfect, this analogy does capture the important factors influencing the distribution of nutrients in the sea. -
🌊🧪 The approximate ratios of these same elements dissolved in deep sea water are 15 atoms of N and 1000 atoms of C for every atom of P. - Broecker and Peng (1982), Tracers in the Sea
November 22, 2025 at 6:56 PM
🌊🧪 The approximate ratios of these same elements dissolved in deep sea water are 15 atoms of N and 1000 atoms of C for every atom of P. - Broecker and Peng (1982), Tracers in the Sea
🌊🧪 As chemical oceanographers, we wander through the plant measuring inputs, outputs, and internal compositions - trying to reconstruct the missing design. - Broecker and Peng (1982), Tracers in the Sea
November 22, 2025 at 6:57 AM
🌊🧪 As chemical oceanographers, we wander through the plant measuring inputs, outputs, and internal compositions - trying to reconstruct the missing design. - Broecker and Peng (1982), Tracers in the Sea
🌊🧪 They constitute the sea's salt. - Broecker and Peng (1982), Tracers in the Sea
November 21, 2025 at 6:56 PM
🌊🧪 They constitute the sea's salt. - Broecker and Peng (1982), Tracers in the Sea
🌊🧪 Roughly, 90% of the organic matter eaten by animals is consumed in the production of energy. - Broecker and Peng (1982), Tracers in the Sea
November 21, 2025 at 6:57 AM
🌊🧪 Roughly, 90% of the organic matter eaten by animals is consumed in the production of energy. - Broecker and Peng (1982), Tracers in the Sea
🌊🧪 Since surface-dwelling organisms use essentially all the available silica, we can add the appropriate amount of opal to the debris. - Broecker and Peng (1982), Tracers in the Sea
November 20, 2025 at 6:55 PM
🌊🧪 Since surface-dwelling organisms use essentially all the available silica, we can add the appropriate amount of opal to the debris. - Broecker and Peng (1982), Tracers in the Sea
🌊🧪 In this connection, we can point back to Figure 1-18, which shows the distribution of NO₃ and H₄SiO₄ in high-latitude surface waters. It is clear from these distributions that silicate is depleted from the water before nitrate (i.e., high concentrations of nitrate extend much further
November 20, 2025 at 6:57 AM
🌊🧪 In this connection, we can point back to Figure 1-18, which shows the distribution of NO₃ and H₄SiO₄ in high-latitude surface waters. It is clear from these distributions that silicate is depleted from the water before nitrate (i.e., high concentrations of nitrate extend much further
🌊🧪 Of great interest to us are those substances that dissolve during erosion and are carried to the sea in ionic form. - Broecker and Peng (1982), Tracers in the Sea
November 19, 2025 at 6:55 PM
🌊🧪 Of great interest to us are those substances that dissolve during erosion and are carried to the sea in ionic form. - Broecker and Peng (1982), Tracers in the Sea