Martin curve

Surface concentrations of particulate organic matter (POM)
as imaged by satellite in 2011

The Martin curve is a power law used by oceanographers to describe the export to the ocean floor of particulate organic carbon (POC). The curve is controlled with two parameters: the reference depth in the water column, and a remineralisation parameter which is a measure of the rate at which the vertical flux of POC attenuates.^[1] It is named after the American oceanographer John Martin.

The Martin Curve has been used in the study of ocean carbon cycling and has contributed to understanding the role of the ocean in regulating atmospheric CO₂ levels.

^ Olli, Kalle (2015). "Unraveling the uncertainty and error propagation in the vertical flux Martin curve". Progress in Oceanography. 135: 146–155. Bibcode:2015PrOce.135..146O. doi:10.1016/j.pocean.2015.05.016.

[Olli2015-1] Olli, Kalle (2015). "Unraveling the uncertainty and error propagation in the vertical flux Martin curve". Progress in Oceanography. 135: 146–155. Bibcode:2015PrOce.135..146O. doi:10.1016/j.pocean.2015.05.016.

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