Chemical Oceanography Flashcards
(85 cards)
P:N:C:O2
1:16:106:153
Nitrate
NO3 ^-
Phosphate
PO4 ^ 3-
ocean circulation
~1000yrs
least reactive major ion
Cl-
main barrier to ocean mixing
density difference (hence 2 box model)
Ammonia
NH4+
Average mix layer
~70m
Anoxic waters have
higher burial (recall fish farming)
Largest inputs and outputs
mixing and particle flux»_space; river input, burial
(–) AOU
supersaturation
Nitrite
NO2-
In a CaCO3 dominant system
surface has decreased Alk, decreased [CO3 2-] pH lower fCO2 higher atm CO2 higher
NH4 comes from
respiration product
what happens to NH4 in surface
converted to NO2, NO3 (only in aerobic/oxic zone)
local surface max in NH4
lag in the conversion from
respiration –– NH4+ –– NO2- –– NO3-
Nitrification
NH4 + O2 –– NO2- –– NO3-
Nitrogen Fixation
N2 ––– NH4+
N2 gas from the atmosphere
requires high Fe
expected NH4+ profile
low [ ] in surface water - possible small max from respiration
major increase is after o-a boundary
expected NO3- profile
[low/0] right at surface (productivity)
increases throughout surface layer, fairly high max ~1000m (respiration)
anoxic - decreases back to 0 toward o-a boundary
open ocean - remains ~ stable with depth
Expected NO2- profile
similar to NO3- but much smaller peak
small peak in oxygen layer from nitrification processes
high N2
denitrification
Conservative ions
only affected by evaporation and precipitation
no big fluctuations with depth
[ion] : seawater S remains ~constant
Mg, Na, Ca, Cl-
Gases
affected by T, S, P, f, reactivity
increase with depth (lower T), except O2