Saturation Depth of Calcium Carbonate Particles in the Ocean

토픽 개요

• Saturation depth of calcium carbonate particles in the ocean

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    Japanese URL

• Distribution of total carbonic acid (DIC) and alkalinity (Alk)
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    Alkalinity and dissolution of calcium carbonate particles in the ocean 웹페이지

    　Here, the conditional equation for the dissolution of calcium carbonate particles in seawater is written out.

    CaCO₃ (s) ⇆ Ca²⁺ + CO₃^2-　；Solubility equilibrium constant K_sp

    K_sp = 【Ca²⁺】×【CO₃^2-】

    The supersaturated state is, 【Ca²⁺】×【CO₃^2-】/ K_sp  >  1

    The saturated (equilibrium) state is, 【Ca²⁺】×【CO₃^2-】/ K_sp  =  1

    Undersaturated state is, 【Ca²⁺】×【CO₃^2-】/ K_sp  <  1.

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    Alkalinity and dissolution of calcium carbonate particles in the ocean 웹페이지

    　The figure below shows the depth at which calcite (top) and aragonite (bottom) among calcium carbonate particles become saturated (【Ca²⁺】×【CO₃^2-】/ K_sp  =  1). Shallower than this depth, calcium carbonate particles will not dissolve because they are undersaturated. In the North Atlantic, calcite is undersaturated (dissolves) at depths below 4500 m, indicating that it is not dissolved in deep water down to about 4000 m depth. In the North Pacific, calcite is undersaturated (dissolved) at depths below 500 m.
    
    
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    Go to the "Ocean Chemistry" contents URL
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    Go to the previous course (Alkalinity and Dissolution of Calcium Carbonate Particles in the Ocean) URL
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    Go to the next course (Vertical Cross Section of Alkalinity and Total Carbonic Acid in the Pacific Ocean) URL