PREFACE 



Oceanography can be portrayed as a description of the sea as an 

 environment, and as the study of all processes taking place within this 

 environment and at its boundaries. Oceanography thus utilizes a variety 

 of scientific disciplines, and its division into separate fields of study, 

 such as chemistry and biology, is somewhat artificial. Nevertheless, 

 a growing awareness of specific chemical problems and recent trends 

 in studying the chemistry of the marine environment provides a basis 

 for identifying chemical oceanography as a discrete programmatic 

 area. This recognition is underscored by the fact that all branches of 

 oceanography in some way depend on chemical information and tech- 

 niques. 



Traditionally, chemical oceanography has been almost completely 

 descriptive, with emphasis on analytical chemistry. In the majority of 

 cases, these studies have been solely directed at identifying water 

 masses to gain insight into their movement and mixing, and at assisting 

 biological investigations, such as productivity studies. More recently, 

 however, the chemical oceanographer has been seeking to elucidate the 

 entire spectrum of physical and chemical processes responsible not only 

 for the composition of the ocean itself but also for the reactions occurring 

 at the various interfaces (i.e. air-sea, sediment- and land-sea, and sus- 

 pended material-sea). These considerations embrace the occurrence 

 and distribution of the elements in the ocean and the types of reactions 

 that occur between the various chemical species in solution, as well 

 as the rates and mechanisms of supply and removal of each oceanic 

 component (i.e., the routes and reservoirs). 



To explain the results of chemical studies, it is often necessary to 

 consider circulation and mixing patterns and also interactions between 

 the various phases present. Thus, chemical investigations of basic pro- 

 cesses in the ocean environment can yield a better understanding of 

 the chemical processes, and the results can elucidate physical processes 

 of the ocean, such as water mass movement and mixing. As in the past, 

 chemical oceanographic research will provide support and assistance 

 in the understanding and solution of problems that mainly concern 

 disciplines other than physical oceanography, such as marine biology 

 and geology. Moreover, conducting a research program in a manner 

 that addresses fundamental processes in the marine environment will 

 reduce the constant redirection and disruption of well-planned research 

 eflForts arising from the pressures of newly recognized or socially active 



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