| Summary: | In the present paper a simple technique for data analysis of the distribution of biogeochemical elements in the oceanic water column is presented. It is based on a steady vertical model, which assumes that the turbulent diffusion and vertical advection are the main physical mechanisms influencing the conservative tracer concentration. The production/consumption rates of non-conservative tracers are computed on the basis of this model. Sensitivity analysis of this model has been performed, which permits assessing the eventual influence of horizontal advection on the results. It also permits the taking into account of its effects if some hypothesis for the horizontal gradients are made. The potential area of applicability of the presented simple technology for data analysis is broad. Examples of its application are presented as analysis of the oxygen data for some stations of the INDIGO3, 1987 expedition in the Southern Ocean. The calculated oxygen consumption rates for the Antarctic Circumpolar Current (Indian Ocean Sector) range between 1.8 and 2.22 mmol m-2/d plus or minus 20%.
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