Physiocochemical Processes Controlling Thorium Behavior in the Ocean

控制颗粒反应性U/Th归宿的过程 必须充分了解海洋中的衰变系列同位素， 为了确定它们作为粒子示踪剂的有用性， 动力学 钍的动力学和平衡行为似乎 是物理（粒子- 粒子相互作用）和化学（吸附）过程。 一 胶体泵假说认为Th同位素是 从溶解状态转移到大颗粒， 将测试胶体。 研究表明， “清除”率最有可能代表 亚微米颗粒与大颗粒池的凝聚 而不是吸附本身。 实验室实验将 使用无机和有机模型颗粒， 测试和模拟吸附和 凝结过程 野外实验将测试海洋 实验约束条件下的扫气模型， 更好地理解实验室结果的适用性 研究自然环境。

The processes controlling the fate of particle-reactive U/Th decay series isotopes in the oceans must be fully understood in order to ascertain their usefulness as tracers for particle dynamics. Thorium kinetic and equilibrium behavior appears to be the consequence of a combination of physical (particle- particle interactions) and chemical (adsorption) processes. A colloidal pumping hypothesis stating that Th isotopes are transferred from the dissolved state to macroparticles via a colloidal will be tested. Research suggests that Th "scavenging" rates most likely represent the rate of coagulation of submicron particles with a large-particle pool rather than Th sorption itself. Laboratory experiments will use inorganic and organic model particles in order to further test and simulate the proposed coupling of sorption and coagulation processes. Field experiments will test the oceanic scavenging model under experimentally constrained conditions to better understand the applicability of results from laboratory studies to natural environments.