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Dissolved organic nitrogen dynamics in the Arctic Ocean

Dissolved organic nitrogen dynamics in the Arctic Ocean
Dissolved organic nitrogen dynamics in the Arctic Ocean
Little is known about the distribution and dynamics of dissolved organic nitrogen (DON) within Arctic Ocean surface waters, though seasonal inputs from both rivers and marine phytoplankton production are likely important. Here we combine multiple datasets to provide the first quasi-synoptic view of DON concentrations in the summertime Arctic Ocean Polar Surface Layer (PSL) and western Arctic shelves, and infer controlling processes. Distributions indicate inputs of DON by Arctic rivers followed by net consumption of up to 70% of this terrigenous material across the resulting salinity gradients over time scales of years. Coupling of DON losses to PSL residence times indicates first order decay constants (?) of 0.15 ± 0.07 yr? 1 and 0.08 ± 0.01 yr? 1 for terrigenous DON in the eastern and western Arctic systems, respectively. Riverine delivery of both inorganic and organic nitrogen have only a minor (< 15%) impact on Arctic shelf export production. In the Pacific Ocean-influenced Chukchi Sea, net biological production of ~ 2 ?M DON, representing ~ 8% of net community production, is observed in surface waters following seasonal sea-ice retreat. These findings highlight the contrasting roles and locations of terrigenous versus marine derived DON in the cycling of nitrogen in the surface Arctic Ocean.
Dissolved organic nitrogen, Arctic Ocean, Terrigenous DOM
0304-4203
1-9
Letscher, Robert T.
6a60c75d-1343-4628-a692-8031ac5c3ee9
Hansell, Dennis A.
d4f0a3af-ca20-4791-a794-e52cbd56d654
Kadko, David
6abdcca7-d041-4b7c-8d94-db22b3c90601
Bates, Nicholas R.
954a83d6-8424-49e9-8acd-e606221c9c57
Letscher, Robert T.
6a60c75d-1343-4628-a692-8031ac5c3ee9
Hansell, Dennis A.
d4f0a3af-ca20-4791-a794-e52cbd56d654
Kadko, David
6abdcca7-d041-4b7c-8d94-db22b3c90601
Bates, Nicholas R.
954a83d6-8424-49e9-8acd-e606221c9c57

Letscher, Robert T., Hansell, Dennis A., Kadko, David and Bates, Nicholas R. (2013) Dissolved organic nitrogen dynamics in the Arctic Ocean. Marine Chemistry, 148, 1-9. (doi:10.1016/j.marchem.2012.10.002).

Record type: Article

Abstract

Little is known about the distribution and dynamics of dissolved organic nitrogen (DON) within Arctic Ocean surface waters, though seasonal inputs from both rivers and marine phytoplankton production are likely important. Here we combine multiple datasets to provide the first quasi-synoptic view of DON concentrations in the summertime Arctic Ocean Polar Surface Layer (PSL) and western Arctic shelves, and infer controlling processes. Distributions indicate inputs of DON by Arctic rivers followed by net consumption of up to 70% of this terrigenous material across the resulting salinity gradients over time scales of years. Coupling of DON losses to PSL residence times indicates first order decay constants (?) of 0.15 ± 0.07 yr? 1 and 0.08 ± 0.01 yr? 1 for terrigenous DON in the eastern and western Arctic systems, respectively. Riverine delivery of both inorganic and organic nitrogen have only a minor (< 15%) impact on Arctic shelf export production. In the Pacific Ocean-influenced Chukchi Sea, net biological production of ~ 2 ?M DON, representing ~ 8% of net community production, is observed in surface waters following seasonal sea-ice retreat. These findings highlight the contrasting roles and locations of terrigenous versus marine derived DON in the cycling of nitrogen in the surface Arctic Ocean.

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More information

Published date: 20 January 2013
Keywords: Dissolved organic nitrogen, Arctic Ocean, Terrigenous DOM
Organisations: Ocean Biochemistry & Ecosystems

Identifiers

Local EPrints ID: 357293
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/357293
ISSN: 0304-4203
PURE UUID: f3e45c1a-7e7c-4c11-9e74-9b172a0c7268

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Date deposited: 24 Sep 2013 08:56
Last modified: 14 Mar 2024 14:57

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Contributors

Author: Robert T. Letscher
Author: Dennis A. Hansell
Author: David Kadko

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