Abstract

The distribution of carbonate on the floor of the Pacific has been remapped on the basis of 1313 points from 80 references stored in the World Ocean Sediment Data Bank of Scripps Institution of Oceanography. Percent distribution maps and carbonate versus depth diagrams generally agree with previously published information and reflect the major controlling factors of carbonate sedimentation (depth, hydrography, fertility, and sedimentary processes). While carbonate distributions are of limited use in attempting to construct dissolution profiles, major trends are identifiable. In particular, the degree of lowering of the equatorial calcite compensation depth (CCD) together with an estimate of the differences in supply rates between the equator and the subtropical gyre can be used to estimate dissolution rate increase below the lysocline. There is considerable variation in the sharpness of the ‘CCD transition’ a concept defined here. This variation is thought to reflect both geographic differences in dissolution rate gradients and redeposition processes (carbonate, deep-sea sediments, calcite, and compensation depth).

Department

Center for Coastal and Ocean Mapping Affiliate

Publication Date

5-1976

Publisher

American Geophysical Union Publications

Journal Title

Journal of Geophysical Reasearch: C Oceans

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

10.1029/JC081i015p02617

Document Type

Article

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