and much of the work can be completed at sea by a single person. Limitations include the need 

 to rely on the empirical ratio of VOCp^^Th to convert from 234 Th flux to POC flux. Also, this 

 budgeting process will not work if the 234 Th inventory and particles samples are severely 

 impacted by resuspension. One would need to work in deeper waters (z > 100m) and/or in 

 stratified surface waters which are isolated from direct bottom effects. As such, one would 

 determine the next export of POC out of the upper mixed layer only. 



STATUS OF RESEARCH 



This research has been ongoing since the JGOFS pilot programs in 1988. Sea-going 

 sampling and analytical equipment exists, as well as models for interpreting the results. This 

 type of work is not currently funded as part of the OMP. 



Keywords: vertical fluxes, thorium, POC 



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