| Abstract: | Supply of 210Pb to the continental shelf off the northeastern United States is dominated by the deposition from the atmosphere, the rate of which is reliably known from previously published work. Excess 210Pb inventories in the shelf sediments show accumulations that are nearly in balance with the supply, even in areas of relict sands where it is believed that no net accumulation of sediment presently occurs. The 210Pb distributions in shelf and slope water indicate that the two-way fluid exchange at the shelf-slope front and the net transport in the alongshore flow make comparatively small contributions to the shelf 210Pb budget. The near balance between supply and decay of 210Pb on the shelf implies a limit to the particle export flux. It is concluded that the export of particulate organic carbon does not exceed 60 g m-2 y-1 (???25% of primary production) and is probably lower. The hypothesis is advanced that fine particulate matter introduced to the continental shelf is detained in its transit of the shelf because of bioturbational trapping in the sediment due to benthic animals. Distributions of 210Pb in suspended particulate matter and in the fine fraction of shelf sediments suggest that the average fine particle must undergo several cycles of deposition-bioturbation-resuspension-redeposition and requires a number of decades for its transit and ultimate export from the shelf. Thus, only the most refractory organic matter is likely to be exported. ?? 1994. |
| Genre: | Article |
| ProdID: | 70017389 |
| Citation Author: | Bacon, M. P.; Belastock, R. A.; Bothner, M. H. |
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| Citation End Page: | 535 |
| Citation Issue: | 2-3 |
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| Citation Language: | English |
| Citation Larger Work Title: | Deep-Sea Research Part II: Topical Studies in Oceanography |
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| Citation Number Of Pages: | 25 |
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| Citation Publisher: | Elsevier |
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| Citation Search Results Text: | 210Pb balance and implications for particle transport on the continental shelf, U.S. Middle Atlantic Bight; 1994; Article; Journal; Deep-Sea Research Part II: Topical Studies in Oceanography; Bacon, M. P.; Belastock, R. A.; Bothner, M. H. |
| Citation Start Page: | 511 |
| Citation Volume: | 41 |
| Citation Year: | 1994 |
| Type: | citation/reference |
| Text: | 210Pb balance and implications for particle transport on the continental shelf, U.S. Middle Atlantic Bight; 1994; Article; Journal; Deep-Sea Research Part II: Topical Studies in Oceanography; Bacon, M. P.; Belastock, R. A.; Bothner, M. H. |
| URL (THUMBNAIL): | http://pubs.er.usgs.gov/thumbnails/outside_thumb.jpg |
| URL (DIGITAL OBJECT IDENTIFIER): | http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/0967-0645(94)90033-7 |
| Date Other: | Sat, 1 Jan 1994 00:00 -0600 |
| Publisher: | Elsevier |
