Suboxic zone in the Black Sea: real fact or analytical artefact

Abstract

A reevaluation of the presence of a suboxic zone above the sulphide onset and the fine structure of the oxic/anoxic interface in the Black Sea is discussed. The results qualify this phenomenon as an analytical artefact and that the methods used for dissolved oxygen (DO) profiling are not applicable in the situation. Former and recent studies have established the stability of the oxic/anoxic interface structure with two principal components: the low DO gradient zone situated at the base of oxycline, and of the C-layer located beneath the sulphide onset boundary, where DO and sulphide coexist. The existence of the C-layer does not permit a suboxic zone void of perceptible DO and sulphide.

Keywords:

• Anoxic
• Black Sea
• meromictic
• oxycline
• suboxic
• sulphide

Published in collaboration with the University of Bergen and the Institute of Marine Research, Norway, and the Marine Biological Laboratory, University of Copenhagen, Denmark

Published in collaboration with the University of Bergen and the Institute of Marine Research, Norway, and the Marine Biological Laboratory, University of Copenhagen, Denmark

Acknowledgements

The author wishes to thank E. V. Yakushev for collaboration during this work and for his invaluable aid in the collection of needed information.

Notes

Published in collaboration with the University of Bergen and the Institute of Marine Research, Norway, and the Marine Biological Laboratory, University of Copenhagen, Denmark