ABSTRACT
Seawater consists of a complex mixture of inorganic salts, atmospheric gases, small amounts of particulate matter, and traces of organic matter. As noted by Millero, 1 seawater components can be subdivided into four phases:
Solids (material that does not pass through a 0.45 µm filter)
Particulate organic material (plant detritus)
Particulate inorganic material (minerals)
Gases
Conservative (N2, Ar, Xe)
Nonconservative (O2 and CO2)
Colloids (passes through a 0.45 µm filter, but is not dissolved)
Organic (complex sugars)
Inorganic (iron hydroxides)
Dissolved solutes
Inorganic solutes
Major (>1 ppm)
Minor (<1 ppm)
Organic solutes 1