Episodic atmospheric nitrogen deposition to oligotrophic oceans

N. J.P. Owens, J. N. Galloway, R. A. Duce

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

122 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

PHYTOPLANKTON production is generally thought to be limited by nitrogen availability over large regions of the ocean, particularly oligotrophic areas. The largest source of nitrogen to these regions is transport from deep waters. Atmospheric deposition is also a source of nitrogen to the oceans1 ,2 but previous assessments of these inputs, based on calculations of annual deposition3,4suggest that they are of minor importance for oceanic production. Using a nine-year record of nitrogen deposition, we re-evaluate here the contribution of atmospheric nitrogen inputs to the ocean and show that these can contribute to an important proportion of 'new production' during episodic events. Furthermore, as human activities such as fossil-fuel burning contribute significant quantities of inorganic nitrogen to the atmosphere 5,6we suggest that the atmospheric input of nitrogen to the oceans is a route whereby these activities might directly influence (by increasing) oceanic productivity.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)397-399
Number of pages3
JournalNature
Volume357
Issue number6377
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 4 Jun 1992

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