Latitudinal distribution and origin of particulate silica in the surface water of the North Pacific

Abstract

The concentrations of particulate silica and inorganic suspended matter in the surface water of the North Pacific were determined. The concentration of particulate silica depends on latitude, and increases with increasing degree of the north latitude. The concentration of inorganic suspended matter shows a similar distribution pattern, but it is of much smaller magnitude. There exists a high positive correlation between the concentrations of particulate silica and nutrients. On the other hand, a weak negative correlation is found between the concentrations in surface seawater of particulate silica and radioactive 210Pb which originate chiefly from precipitation and dry fallout. This evidence suggests that the particulate silica in the sea is mainly of biogenic origin and the contribution of nonbiogenic silica, i.e., of terrestrial origin, is small.