2009년 여름 동해의 TEP의 수직 및 수평 분포

Abstract

Phytoplankton converts carbon dioxide to organic material through photosynthesis and exports the organics to the deep ocean that results in oceanic absorption of atmospheric carbon dioxide. For better understanding the biological pump, distribution of transparent exopolymer particles (TEP) was examined. These gel-like partilces suspended in the water play essential role for aggregation of large particles. Other parameters as total alkalinity, pH, concentration of nutrients and total and size-fractionated chlorophyll a were measured, as well. Total carbon dioxide, chlorophyll a, and surface TEP concentrations had distinctively different horizontal distribution patterns in the surface layer where TEP concentration was very high and chlorophyll a concentration was low with dominance of large-sized phytoplankton. However, there was strong positive relationship between TEP and chlorophyll a concentrations in the chlorophyll maximum layer, that indicated that TEP were related to phytoplankton.