The 234Th–238U disequilibrium technique has been widely used to estimate the amount of particulate organic carbon (POC) exported from surface ocean layers to the deep sea. This method is based on determining 234Th fluxes from vertical 234Th–238U profiles in the water column and converting them into POC fluxes using POC/234Th ratios measured in sinking particles at a given calculation depth.
We present here an extensive repository of POC fluxes, together with Th fluxes and POC/234Th ratios. Covering all the global ocean, classified in 13 regions, season and moment of the bloom and calculated at three different depths:
i) a fixed depth (100 m)
ii) the reference depth in the paper associated to the base of the euphotic zone
iii) the 234Th–238U equilibrium depth.
To ensure a compilation representative of the global ocean, the dataset were selected using the division areas proposed by the international network JETZON (Joint Exploration of the Twilight Zone Ocean Network); that agreed a division of the oceans in 13 regions based on their contrasted physics and biogeochemical characteristics. The stations from 234Th publications associated to each JETZON region were carefully selected according to their ability to represent regional environmental conditions. Furthermore, station selection was based on essential criteria such as data quality and accessibility, availability of time series, clear definition of export depth, measurements from established programs, e.g. GEOTRACES, and the presence of other additional relevant ancillary data.
The data in the compilation are thus organized by region and include geographic coordinates, season, selected export depth, and other key factors (such as a description of the flux evaluation depth or the export depth zone).
After 234Th–238U compilation, 234Th fluxes were calculated, when possible, at the three different depths, i), ii) and iii), under the assumption of steady-state conditions, following Le Moigne et al. 2013.
Using POC/234Th ratios, POC fluxes are estimated from Th fluxes and both fluxes were included in the repository.
POC/234Th ratios were chosen from pump samples, prioritizing particles larger than 53 μm when available. These ratios must be estimated at the flux calculation depth [i), ii) and iii)]. When they were not available at the calculation depth POC/234Th values were interpolated as described in the readme text file. The values of the ratios are included in the repository, specifying the depth at which they were determined and indicating whether they have been interpolated. Similarly, when 234Th, 238U concentrations were not available at the calculation depth, values were interpolated (see readme text file).