ADVANCES IN POLAR SCIENCE ›› 2012, Vol. 24 ›› Issue (3): 247-253.DOI: 10.3724/SP.J.1084.2012.00247

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THE DISTRIBUTION AND CONTENT OF PARTICULATE BIOGENIC SILICA IN SURFACE WATERS OF PRYDZ BAY,SOUTHERN OCEAN, DURING THE AUSTRAL SUMMER OF 2011

Hu Chuanyu1,2,Han Zhengbing1,2,Shen Chen1,2,Zhang Haisheng1,2   

  1.  
    1China University of Geosciences, Wuhan 430074,China;
    2Laboratory of Marine Ecosystem and Biogeochemistry, Second Institute of Oceanography, SOA, Hangzhou 310012,China
  • Received:2012-01-16 Revised:2012-04-04 Online:2012-09-30 Published:2012-09-30

Abstract: To characterize the correlation among PBSi and plankton, nutrients and POC, the contents and distributions of PBSi in the upper surface waters of Prydz Bay, Southern Ocean, were investigated during the CHINARE-27 cruises. Results show that the contents of PBSi ranged between 0.76—19.72 μmol/dm3, the average content of PBSi was 6.06 μmol/dm3, and the distribution of surface PBSi had significant regional characteristics. The concentrations were higher in the southern area of 67°S than in the northern area. The distribution of PBSi and Chl a and POC show similar patterns, and PBSi had a negative correlation with silicate. In the vertical direction, the mole ratio of Si/C decreased with increasing depth. This trend indicated a higher rate of PBSi dissolution, or lower rate of organic matter remineralization rate in the upper 200 m.

Key words: PBSi, particle, phytoplankton, POC, Prydz Bay