Pathways and mean residence times of dissolved pollutants in the ocean derived from transient tracers and stable isotopes

P. Schlosser; R. Bayer; G. Bönisch; L. W. Cooper; B. Ekwurzel; W. J. Jenkins; S. Khatiwala; S. Pfirman; W. M. Smethie

doi:10.1016/S0048-9697(99)00121-7

Pathways and mean residence times of dissolved pollutants in the ocean derived from transient tracers and stable isotopes

P. Schlosser, R. Bayer, G. Bönisch, L. W. Cooper, B. Ekwurzel, W. J. Jenkins, S. Khatiwala, S. Pfirman, W. M. Smethie

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

39 Scopus citations

Abstract

During the past decades, a variety of transient tracers have been used to derive information on pathways and mean residence times of oceanic water masses. Here, we discuss how information obtained in such studies can be applied to studying the spreading of dissolved pollutants in the ocean. The discussion focuses on the transient tracers tritium/³He and the H₂/¹⁸O/H₂/¹⁶O ratio of water. These tracers are used in combination with CFCs and ¹⁴C in a case study of Arctic Ocean contaminant transport to: (1) separate the freshwater components contained in the near-surface waters; (2) infer mean pathways of freshwater and associated contaminants from the H₂/¹⁸O/H₂/¹⁶O distribution in the surface waters; and (3) determine mean residence times of the surface, intermediate, deep and bottom waters.

Original language	English (US)
Pages (from-to)	15-30
Number of pages	16
Journal	Science of the Total Environment
Volume	237-238
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/S0048-9697(99)00121-7
State	Published - Sep 30 1999
Externally published	Yes

Keywords

Oceanic waters
Pathways
Pollutants
Residence times
Tracers

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Environmental Engineering
Environmental Chemistry
Waste Management and Disposal
Pollution

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10.1016/S0048-9697(99)00121-7

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title = "Pathways and mean residence times of dissolved pollutants in the ocean derived from transient tracers and stable isotopes",

abstract = "During the past decades, a variety of transient tracers have been used to derive information on pathways and mean residence times of oceanic water masses. Here, we discuss how information obtained in such studies can be applied to studying the spreading of dissolved pollutants in the ocean. The discussion focuses on the transient tracers tritium/3He and the H2/18O/H2/16O ratio of water. These tracers are used in combination with CFCs and 14C in a case study of Arctic Ocean contaminant transport to: (1) separate the freshwater components contained in the near-surface waters; (2) infer mean pathways of freshwater and associated contaminants from the H2/18O/H2/16O distribution in the surface waters; and (3) determine mean residence times of the surface, intermediate, deep and bottom waters.",

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author = "P. Schlosser and R. Bayer and G. B{\"o}nisch and Cooper, {L. W.} and B. Ekwurzel and Jenkins, {W. J.} and S. Khatiwala and S. Pfirman and Smethie, {W. M.}",

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T1 - Pathways and mean residence times of dissolved pollutants in the ocean derived from transient tracers and stable isotopes

AU - Schlosser, P.

AU - Bayer, R.

AU - Bönisch, G.

AU - Cooper, L. W.

AU - Ekwurzel, B.

AU - Jenkins, W. J.

AU - Khatiwala, S.

AU - Pfirman, S.

AU - Smethie, W. M.

PY - 1999/9/30

Y1 - 1999/9/30

N2 - During the past decades, a variety of transient tracers have been used to derive information on pathways and mean residence times of oceanic water masses. Here, we discuss how information obtained in such studies can be applied to studying the spreading of dissolved pollutants in the ocean. The discussion focuses on the transient tracers tritium/3He and the H2/18O/H2/16O ratio of water. These tracers are used in combination with CFCs and 14C in a case study of Arctic Ocean contaminant transport to: (1) separate the freshwater components contained in the near-surface waters; (2) infer mean pathways of freshwater and associated contaminants from the H2/18O/H2/16O distribution in the surface waters; and (3) determine mean residence times of the surface, intermediate, deep and bottom waters.

AB - During the past decades, a variety of transient tracers have been used to derive information on pathways and mean residence times of oceanic water masses. Here, we discuss how information obtained in such studies can be applied to studying the spreading of dissolved pollutants in the ocean. The discussion focuses on the transient tracers tritium/3He and the H2/18O/H2/16O ratio of water. These tracers are used in combination with CFCs and 14C in a case study of Arctic Ocean contaminant transport to: (1) separate the freshwater components contained in the near-surface waters; (2) infer mean pathways of freshwater and associated contaminants from the H2/18O/H2/16O distribution in the surface waters; and (3) determine mean residence times of the surface, intermediate, deep and bottom waters.

KW - Oceanic waters

KW - Pathways

KW - Pollutants

KW - Residence times

KW - Tracers

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SN - 0048-9697

VL - 237-238

SP - 15

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JO - Science of the Total Environment

JF - Science of the Total Environment

ER -

Pathways and mean residence times of dissolved pollutants in the ocean derived from transient tracers and stable isotopes

Abstract

Keywords

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Access to Document

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