234Th:238U disequilibria in the Gulf of Mexico: the importance of organic matter and particle concentration

Abstract

We have measured the concentrations of dissolved and particulate234Th, suspended particulate matter, dissolved organic carbon, nutrients and a suite of pigments along a transect in the shelf and slope waters of the Gulf of Mexico. The deep water station samples were collected in the presence (summer 1992) and absence (spring 1992) of a warm-core ring. In the summer, the station was at the periphery of a warm-core ring containing more oligotrophic, Caribbean water, while in the spring, only Gulf water was present. The234Th deficiency, which extends throughout a 1500 m water column in spring, indicates active lateral exchange of dissolved and particulate species. This study provides insight into the role of particles for234Th scavenging and differences in the scavenging intensities in the presence and absence of a warm-core ring. In addition, the possibility that the major carrier phase of thorium cycling could be dissolved organic carbon is suggested from the correlation between234Th (dissolved and total) and dissolved organic carbon concentrations. The average particle residence time for the whole water column in spring, seven days, was significantly shorter than that for summer, 21 days. This longer residence time in the summer is attributed to the presence of a warm-core ring which resulted in lower particle, DOC, and nutrient concentrations. Values of scavenging and particle residence times and234Th fluxes, and the significance of the correlations of these values with concentrations of particle mass and various pigments are discussed.