Abstract
In recent years, significant knowledge has been gained about the oceanic distributions of several trace elements1,2. However, relatively little is known about amounts of Ag in the ocean, and how this element cycles through it. We report here that Ag levels are relatively low near the surface (∼1 pmol kg−1), and that concentrations more or less steadily increase with depth; for example, 23 pmol kg−1 at 2,440 m, the deepest sample we collected. In general, Ag depth profiles are similar to those observed for Cu (Fig. 1). The near-surface cycles of Ag appears to be involved with particulate organic matter uptake–sinking–regeneration processes.
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Martin, J., Knauer, G. & Gordon, R. Silver distributions and fluxes in north-east Pacific waters. Nature 305, 306–309 (1983). https://doi.org/10.1038/305306a0
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/305306a0
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