Lateral transport of particulate materials observed with sediment traps

Noriki, Shinichiro*; Otosaka, Shigeyoshi; Maeda, Nobuhiro*

no journal, , 

Origin and lateral transport processes of particulate materials are inferred from sediment trap experiments in the western North Pacific and its marginal seas. We assessed on (1) spatial distribution of aluminum (Al), which is known as a major component of lithogenic aluminosilicates, (2) size-distribution of lithogenic particles, and (3) lanthanum/ytterbium (La/Yb) and thorium/scandium (Th/Sc) ratios that are known as useful indicators of the origin of lithogenic particles in the region. Using these indicators, settling flux of lithogenic particles, which was inferred to originate from the Asian Continent, were estimated. Lithogenic flux of the Asian Continent origin increased with depth. From these results, we could summarize that fine lithogenic particles originated from the Asian Continent would be transported northwardly through the deep part of the western North Pacific.