Redfield ratios of remineralization determined by nutrient data analysis

Journal Article · Tue Mar 01 04:00:00 EST 1994 · Global Biogeochemical Cycles; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1029/93GB03318· OSTI ID:6956150

Anderson, L A ^[1]; Sarmiento, J L ^[2]

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1. Harvard Univ., Cambridge, MA (United States)
2. Princeton Univ., NJ (United States)

A nonlinear inverse method is applied to nutrient data upon approximately 20 neutral surfaces in each of the South Atlantic, Indian, and Pacific basins, between 400 and 4000 m depth. By accounting for the gradients in nutrients due to the mixing of [open quotes]preformed[close quotes] concentrations of the major water masses, the nutrient changes due to biological activity are examined, and the time-mean, basin-wide Redfield ratios calculated. It is found that the P/N/C[sub org]/[sup O][sub 2] ratios of nutrient regeneration between 400 and 4000 m (corrected for the effect of denitrification) are approximately constant with depth and basin, at a value of 1/16[+-]1/117[+-]14/170[+-]10. These ratios agree with those of fresh organic matter, suggesting that the flux of organic material to the deep ocean may be dominated by fast-sinking matter produced by sporadic, high-productivity events. Sedimentary denitrification reduces the N/P utilization ratio to 12 [+-] 2 between 1000 and 3000 m. In the Indian and Pacific basins the C[sub org]/C[sub inorg] regeneration ratio decreases from approximately 7 [+-] 13 at 400 m to 3 [+-] 1 at 1000 m and to 1 [+-] 0.5 at 4000 m, suggesting a significant amount of calcium carbonate dissolution above the calcite lysoclines in the Indian and Pacific oceans. 74 refs., 8 figs., 3 tabs.

• DOE Contract Number: FG02-90ER61052
• OSTI ID: 6956150
• Journal Information: Global Biogeochemical Cycles; (United States), Journal Name: Global Biogeochemical Cycles; (United States) Vol. 8:1; ISSN 0886-6236; ISSN GBCYEP
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
540310* -- Environment
Aquatic-- Basic Studies-- (1990-)
BIOGEOCHEMISTRY
CHEMISTRY
ECOLOGICAL CONCENTRATION
EQUATIONS
GEOCHEMISTRY
GLOBAL ASPECTS
MATTER
NUTRIENTS
ORGANIC MATTER
REGENERATION
SEAS
SURFACE WATERS