Silver in the subarctic northeast Pacific Ocean: Explaining the basin scale distribution of silver

► A significant addition the global ocean silver dataset is presented. ► A null hypothesis to explain the distribution of silver in the ocean is developed. ► We propose that scavenging of Ag in the form of insoluble AgS species in suboxic water columns and sediments is the primary mechanism driving variability in observed silver versus silicic acid relationships in the global ocean.