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Article: Ocean Biogeochemistry
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- Water:Science and Issues
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CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 2003 The Gale Group Inc. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
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Ocean Biogeochemistry
Biogeochemistry is the study of the interactions of the biology, chemistry, and geology of the Earth. In the case of a large body of water such as the ocean, biogeochemistry can be thought of as a huge experiment or set of reactions. Instead of happening in a clean glass beaker, the reactions have the ocean floor as the container.
The surface of the water is open to the air, and every day more dust and dirt from land blows over the ocean and falls in. Moreover, the surface of the water contains many small plant forms that are continually growing and being consumed by animals that are themselves consumed by other animals.
As this life and death drama continues, ...