ON THE OCCURRENCE AND FORMATION OF SMALL PARTICLES IN SEAWATER

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Abstract
Size distributions are given of particulate matter in suspension at the surface and at various depths to 400 m in the Strait of Georgia, British Columbia. The distributions at depth do not appear to arise from settling of particles from the surface; one possible reason is that particle formation takes place in situ. It is shown that particles will form in undisturbed membrane‐filtered seawater under a variety of conditions and that this phenomenon occurred in the presence of bacteria. Particles larger than 1.58 µ could only be produced to certain limiting concentrations, usually less than 1 ppm by volume, and the final concentration formed depended on the origin of the water. If the particles were filtered from the water, another period of particle formation would occur. The possible importance of these particles in the marine economy is discussed with particular reference to filter feeders.

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