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Physical Transport of Nutrients and the Maintenance of Biological Production

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Ocean Biogeochemistry

Part of the book series: Global Change — The IGBP Series (closed) ((GLOBALCHANGE))

Abstract

The oceanic distributions of nutrients and patterns of biological production are controlled by the interplay of biogeochemical and physical processes, and external sources. Biological and chemical processes lead to the transformation of nutrients between inorganic and organic forms, and also between dissolved and particulate forms. Physical processes redistribute nutrients within the water column through transport and mixing. The combined role of biogeochemical and physical processes is reflected in the observed distributions of nitrate, phosphate and silicate (macro-nutrients). These distributions broadly reflect those of classical water masses, as defined by temperature and salinity, highlighting the important role of physical transport. However, there are also significant differences between the nutrient and water-mass distributions, notably with nutrients showing stronger vertical and basin-to-basin contrasts. Biological production leads to these greater nutrient contrasts with inorganic nutrients consumed and converted to organic matter in the surface, sunlit ocean. A small fraction of the organic matter in this euphotic zone is exported to depth, driven by the gravitational sinking of particles and subduction of dissolved organic matter. This organic fallout is eventually remineralised leading to an accumulation of inorganic nutrients in deeper and older water masses.

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  1. Oceanography Laboratories Department of Earth Sciences, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, L69 7ZL, UK

    Richard G. Williams

  2. Program in Atmospheres, Oceans and Climate Department of Earth, Atmospheric and Planetary Sciences, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, 02139, USA

    Michael J. Follows

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  1. Southampton Oceanography Centre, Waterfront Campus, Southampton, SO14 3ZH, UK

    Michael J. R. Fasham

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Williams, R.G., Follows, M.J. (2003). Physical Transport of Nutrients and the Maintenance of Biological Production. In: Fasham, M.J.R. (eds) Ocean Biogeochemistry. Global Change — The IGBP Series (closed). Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-55844-3_3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-55844-3_3

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