Change Date: 26 Sep 2025, 5:41 a.m.
sinking_mole_flux_at_sea_floor_of_particulate_organic_matter_expressed_as_carbon_in_sea_water mol m-2 s-1 [M2MS] The phrase 'expressed_as' is used in the construction A_expressed_as_B, where B is a chemical constituent of A. It means that the quantity indicated by the standard name is calculated solely with respect to the B contained in A, neglecting all other chemical constituents of A. In accordance with common usage in geophysical disciplines, "flux" implies per unit area, called "flux density" in physics. 'Sinking' is the gravitational settling of particulate matter suspended in a liquid. A sinking flux is positive downwards and is calculated relative to the movement of the surrounding fluid. Particulate organic matter (also called POM) means organic matter that does not pass through a reference filter pore size. "Organic matter" means material which is derived from living organisms or from their biological activities. Organic matter consists of carbon-based compounds.