Nitrate anomaly in the upper nutricline in the northern South China Sea - Evidence for nitrogen fixation
Journal
Geophysical Research Letters
Journal Volume
29
Journal Issue
23
Pages
12-1
Date Issued
2002
Author(s)
Abstract
Up to 2 μM of nitrate anomaly, N∗, were found in the upper nutricline at the South East Asia Time-series Study (SEATS) site in the northern South China Sea (SCS). These concentrations were among the higher values reported in the Pacific and indicate the significant contribution of the remineralization of nitrogen-rich organic matter formed by nitrogen fixation to the nutrient dynamics of the area. The concentrations were systematically higher, by up to 2.5 μM, in the Fall through the early Spring, during the northeast monsoon, than in the Summer, suggesting that the impact of nitrogen fixation was higher during the former time period. This pattern is in phase with that of the atmospheric deposition of Asian dust to the northern SCS. The coherence is consistent with a coupling between nitrogen fixation and the availability of atmospherically derived iron. © Copyright 2002 by the American Geophysical Union.
Subjects
Meteorological problems; Nitrates; Nitrogen; Asian dust; Atmospheric depositions; Northeast monsoon; Northern South China Sea; Nutrient dynamics; Remineralization; Southeast Asia; Time-periods; Nitrogen fixation
SDGs
Type
journal article