MSC 111 Lecture 8: Ocean Chemistry II

• School: University of Miami
• Department: Marine Science
• Course: MSC 111
• Professor: Peterson Larry

Document Summary

Concentration of nutrients varies greatly over time- nonconservative property (short residence time) Ratio of carbon to nitrogen to phosphorous is phytoplankton and the water. Provide fundamental tenets- empirical way of understanding nutrient cycling. Average molecule of organic matter: 6106(h2o)106(nh3)16(po4)- what"s produced during photosynthesis. Respiration and remineralization of organic matter is simply the reversed reaction. Availability is a function of ocean circulation. Nitrogen and phosphorous are required by primary producers (phytoplankton) Biological processes are largely responsible for the vertical partitioning of nutrients in the water column. Phytoplankton draw down nutrients at the surface. Nutrients are regenerated from sinking organic marine detritus (marine snow) Nutrient max at 1 km- coincides with the pycnocline. Marine snow starts to sink more slowly because water gets denser- animals are able to uptake it more easily. Some nutrient export to the deep ocean. Upwelling- mechanism that brings nutrients at depths back to the surface. Essential because nutrients are bio-limited in typical surface water.