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Redfield behavior of carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorus depletions in Antarctic surface water
Author(s) -
Hoppema Mario,
Goeyens Leo
Publication year - 1999
Publication title -
limnology and oceanography
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.7
H-Index - 197
eISSN - 1939-5590
pISSN - 0024-3590
DOI - 10.4319/lo.1999.44.1.0220
Subject(s) - redfield ratio , nutrient , nitrogen , phosphorus , environmental science , carbon dioxide , nitrate , surface water , carbon fibers , environmental chemistry , surface layer , chemistry , oceanography , ecology , biology , geology , phytoplankton , layer (electronics) , materials science , environmental engineering , organic chemistry , composite number , composite material
Inspired by the recent debate about anomalous nutrient utilization ratios in the surface oceans, we calculated depletions of total carbon dioxide, nitrate, and phosphate for the surface layer of the western Weddell Sea in summer. The depletion ratios, which incorporate all changes over a period of about 3 months starting from the onset of the vegetative season, essentially follow the classical Redfield model. We argue that reliable Redfield ratios can only be obtained when the time interval over which the nutrient utilization ratios are determined is comparable to the length of the vegetative season. Nutrient depletions are perfectly suitable to obtain reliable nutrient consumption ratios. We have good reason to believe that in the surface waters of the Antarctic, as they are nutrient replete, the nutrient consumption ratios comply with the classical Redfield values.