The spatial distribution of sea floor oxygen consumption in the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans

Abstract

Benthic oxygen consumption in the Atlantic and Pacific basins appears to account for the remineralization of 1 to 2% of global oceanic primary production and 4 to 10% of global new production. These values are minimum estimates of the role of the sea floor in global cycles because the contributions from the Arctic, Antarctic and Indian Oceans are not included. Comparison of total respiration indicate that sea floor processes account for 33 to 40% of the organic matter remineralization occurring below 1000 m. -from Authors