Cosmic ray produced silicon-32 in near-coastal waters

Abstract

The specific activity of Silicon-32 is measured is near-coastal seawaters using anin situ method for the extraction of dissolved silica. The results are discussed in relation to the input of Si32 at the surfacevia rains, the expected variation in its concentrations due to continental run-off and influx of open ocean surface waters. The experimental results clearly demonstrate the usefulness of Si32 as a tracer for the study of the vertical structure of the ocean in the upper layers, and of seasonal variations in the types of waters entering in the coastal regions.