Sulfate reduction rates calculated from about 200 DSDP pore water sulfate profiles have been contoured and plotted on a map covering most areas of the world ocean. Rates show a remarkable spatial consistency, with high rates observed near the continental margins, becoming progressively lower toward the central ocean basins. Relatively elevated rates are also found in the eastern equatorial Pacific, a site of upwelling and correspondingly high rates of primary organic production. Overall, the distribution of sulfate reduction in pelagic sediments looks very similar to the distribution of primary organic carbon production. When rates are directly compared, however, the correlation between sulfate reduction and primary production is only moderately strong. Perhaps the most important influence on sulfate reduction is sediment deposition rate and the control this has over the fraction of the sedimentary organic carbon flux that becomes available for sulfate reduction. The slower the rate of sediment deposition the more time for oxic respiration and the less organic carbon that escapes to the zone of sulfate reduction. To predict most accurately sulfate reduction rates, however, the variables of primary production, water depth, and sediment deposition rate must all be integrated.

中文翻译：

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深海沉积物中的硫酸盐还原

根据大约 200 个 DSDP 孔隙水硫酸盐剖面计算的硫酸盐还原率已被绘制在一张覆盖世界海洋大部分区域的地图上。速率显示出显着的空间一致性，在大陆边缘附近观察到高速率，朝向中央海洋盆地逐渐降低。在东赤道太平洋也发现了相对较高的比率，这是一个上升流和初级有机生产率相应较高的地点。总体而言，远洋沉积物中硫酸盐还原的分布看起来与原生有机碳产生的分布非常相似。然而，当直接比较速率时，硫酸盐减少和初级生产之间的相关性只是中等强度。或许对硫酸盐还原最重要的影响是沉积物沉积速率以及它对可用于硫酸盐还原的沉积有机碳通量部分的控制。沉积物沉积速度越慢，有氧呼吸的时间越长，逃逸到硫酸盐还原区的有机碳就越少。然而，为了最准确地预测硫酸盐还原率，必须整合初级生产、水深和沉积物沉积率等变量。