Cited by 121Marine and coastal ecosystemsOceanographic and Atmospheric ProcessesGroundwater and Isotope Geochemistry

The δ18O of dissolved O2 in seawater: A unique tracer of circulation and respiration in the deep sea

Bender, Michael L.·1990·Journal of Geophysical Research: Oceans

Abstract

The isotopic composition of dissolved O2 in seawater, expressed as the δ18O of O2, is unique among the bioactive tracers of the aphotic zone in that it is not linearly related to oxygen utilization via the stoichiometry of organic matter decomposition. In fact, δ18O of O2 depends on the history of water mixing and O2 consumption in the sample studied (Craig and Kroopnick, 1970; Kroopnick and Craig, 1976). For this reason, the variation of δ18O of O2 with O2 concentration depends on regional circulation patterns and oxygen utilization rates. The δ18O of O2 can be used to chartacterize these processes by decoupling their effects. As an example of this assertion, we interpret the covariation between the concentration of O2 and its isotopic composition in the Pacific Ocean as reported by Kroopnick (1987), using four simple representations of seawater mixing and respiration. Kroopnick's data are in general accord with an elementary model of isopycnal mixing represented by diffusive exchange and oxygen utilization in the ocean's interior, coupled with atmospheric equilibrium at the point where the isopycnals outcrop at the sea surface. This specific result illustrates the general point that δ18O of O2 in seawater can serve as an important constraint on more extensive and sophisticated physical models used to estimate rates of oxygen utilization in the deep sea.

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Crossref · 10.1029/jc095ic12p22243

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  • When oxygen penetration depth is small relative to the reaction-diffusion length scale, partially reduced Cr can escape the sediment column and cause significant Cr isotope fractionation within the sediment.

    “If the depth of oxygen penetration into the sediment is small relative to the reaction-diffusion length scale (i.e., the ratio between the diffusion coefficient of CrO4 2-and the apparent rate constant of a single-step reduction reaction), partially reduced Cr can escape from the sediment column, leading to significant Cr isotope fractionation within the sediment.”

    From The chromium isotope composition of reducing and oxic marine sediments (2016) · cites this paper as Bender, 1990

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Authors
Bender, M. L.
Corresponding author
Bender, Michael L.
Venue
Journal of Geophysical Research: Oceans
Published
1990-12-15
Volume
95
Issue
C12
Pages
22243-22252
ISSN
0148-0227 (ISSN-L)
OpenAlex
W1978096810
Cited by
121
References
24
Citations by year
2026: 3 · 2025: 6 · 2024: 2 · 2023: 2 · 2022: 8 · 2021: 3 · 2020: 1 · 2019: 2 · 2018: 3 · 2017: 5 · 2016: 5 · 2015: 2 · 2014: 5 · 2013: 8 · 2012: 7
FWCI
1.25
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
closed
Locations
  • Journal of Geophysical Research Atmospheres (publishedVersion)
  • Helmholtz Centre for Ocean Research Kiel (GEOMAR) (acceptedVersion)
Topics
  • Physical Sciences › Earth and Planetary Sciences › Oceanography › Marine and coastal ecosystems
  • Physical Sciences › Earth and Planetary Sciences › Oceanography › Oceanographic and Atmospheric Processes
  • Physical Sciences › Earth and Planetary Sciences › Geochemistry and Petrology › Groundwater and Isotope Geochemistry
Keywords
dissolved oxygen isotopes, deep ocean circulation, oxygen utilization, isopycnal mixing, Pacific Ocean, aphotic zone, oxygen consumption rate, seawater mixing

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