Possible Influence of the Earth's Magnetic Field 169 



change in potential with depth in the ocean and correlation witli 

 surface velocity would also shed much light on the significance 

 of the proposed electromagnetic mechanism. 



EFFECT OF THE EARTH'S MAGNETIC FIELD ON 



MICROBIOLOGICAL PROCESSES IN 



OCEAN BOTTOM SEDIMENTS 



The above hypothesis not only explains the effect of the 

 ocean currents and the earth's magnetic field on the vertical mo- 

 tion and distribution of microorganisms, but may also be used to 

 explain other anomalous effects on the physiological processes 

 of sessile organisms in bottom sediments. It is generally recog- 

 nized that microorganisms in marine sediments perform numerous 

 oxidation-reduction reactions involving the transfer of electrons. 

 Certain microbiological processes in the sea bottom appear to 

 contribute to the production of electric currents. The existence 

 of telluric currents within the earth's crust including the sea floor 

 is well recognized. Although telluric currents are considered to 

 originate from geophysical forces, e.g., differential solar heating 

 of the earth's crust, some local telluric currents appear to result 

 from a much more comphcated series of circumstances and, to 

 involve biological processes. In this latter instance, diflFerence in 

 oxidation-reduction potentials between adjacent sedimentary de- 

 posits would be expected to influence the direction and magni- 

 tude of these local currents. As microbiological activity has a pro- 

 found influence on the oxidation-reduction conditions within the 

 sea floor, one may reasonably inquire about the impact of an in- 

 duced emf resulting from the movement of sea water electrolytes 

 across the earth's magnetic field, upon biologically induced elec- 

 trochemical phenomena. 



Field investigations and laboratory tests by one of the au- 

 thors reveal that, under certain conditions, a substantial fraction 

 of the electric currents in the sea l:)ottom can be accounted for by 

 biological processes. Because of the difficulties encountered to 

 date in measuring and mapping electric fields in the sea, the pic- 

 ture is as yet incomplete as to preciseK' what fraction and under 

 what set of conditions the biologically induced electric currents 



