Sedimentation rate of particles (Stokes sedimentation)

　Gravity and buoyancy are determined by the density and size of the particles. Assuming that the resistive force follows Stokes' theorem, the terminal velocity of a particle can be calculated by the size and density of the particle and the density of seawater. The formula for the terminal velocity (V_terminal) of a spherical particle is shown below.

　The viscosity coefficient of seawater depends on the water temperature. The viscosity coefficient at a water temperature of 20°C is shown here. (Material density is often expressed in units of g cm^-3, so all units are in the cgs system.) This equation shows that the terminal velocity (sedimentation rate) is proportional to the square of the particle size and also to the density difference between seawater and particles.