Impact of water mass mixing on the biogeochemistry and microbiology of the Northeast Atlantic Deep Water.

ABSTRACT: The extent to which water mass mixing contributes to the biological activity of the dark ocean is essentially unknown. Using a multiparameter water mass analysis, we examined the impact of water mass mixing on the nutrient distribution and microbial activity of the Northeast Atlantic Deep Water (NEADW) along an 8000 km long transect extending from 62°N to 5°S. Mixing of four water types (WT) and basin scale mineralization from the site where the WT where defined to the study area explained up to 95% of the variability in the distribution of inorganic nutrients and apparent oxygen utilization. Mixing-corrected average O₂:N:P mineralization ratios of 127(±11):13.0(±0.7):1 in the core of the NEADW suggested preferential utilization of phosphorus compounds while dissolved organic ca

SUBMITTER: Reinthaler T 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3966262 | biostudies-literature | 2013 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature