Potential deposition of biogenic silica source sediment in the Paleo-Yangtze Grand Underwater Delta estimated with satellite remote sensing

Abstract

ABSTRACTBiogenic silica sediment constitutes one of the critical sources of particle income in the oceans. In this paper, satellite remote sensing of primary production, sinking flux, and molar ratio of Si/C were utilized to elucidate potential biogenic silica sediment in the Paleo-Yangtze Grand Underwater Delta. Primary production retrieval showed that daily primary production in the Paleo-Yangtze Grand Delta was 3.3–10.8 Mt d−1, with 5.8 Mt d−1 on average. Sinking flux, retrieved with in situ observations and satellite remote sensing, was within the range of 109–657 mg Cm−2 d−1, or about 23% of total primary production, on average. A molar ratio of Si/C of 0.11–0.45 interval was used in the area, for the Paleo-Yangtze Grand Delta was similar to coastal water and affected by many factors. Considering that phytoplankton in the Paleo-Yangtze Grand Underwater Delta is mainly diatom (80% on average), about 0.21–0.88 billion tons of biogenic silica source sediment is produced in the area annually. With the reduction of land source sediment occurring in recent years in the area, biogenic silica sediment may be one of the dominant sediment sources for maintaining the future stability of the Paleo-Yangtze Grand Underwater Delta.