On nitrogen fixation and preferential remineralization of phosphorus
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MonteiroFollows_2012.pdf
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Author(s)
Monteiro, F. M.
Follows, Michael J
Date Issued
March 2012
Journal
Geophysical Research Letters
Publisher
American Geophysical Union (AGU)
Citation
Monteiro, F. M. and M. J. Follows. “On Nitrogen Fixation and Preferential Remineralization of Phosphorus.” Geophysical Research Letters 39, 6 (March 2012): L06607 © 2012 American Geophysical Union
Version
Final published version
Abstract
Regional and global nitrogen fixation rates are often estimated from geochemical tracers related to N* (=NO₃⁻-16PO₄³⁻). However the patterns of this tracer reflect the influence of numerous processes including nitrogen fixation, denitrification, remineralization of organic matter, variable stoichiometry, atmospheric deposition and physical transport. Here we have used idealized models to illustrate how preferential remineralization of organic phosphorous may explain observed features of N* distribution in the North Atlantic Ocean, including a subsurface maximum and an increased temporal variability in the mid-thermocline. If preferential remineralization of phosphorus is key in shaping the oceanic distribution of N*, published estimates of nitrogen fixation may be underestimating the marine nitrogen fixation rate by as much as a factor of three.
MIT Department
Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Department of Earth, Atmospheric, and Planetary Sciences
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Article is made available in accordance with the publisher's policy and may be subject to US copyright law. Please refer to the publisher's site for terms of use.
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DOI of Published Version
https://doi.org/10.1029/2012GL050897
