Remineralization Ratios in the Subtropical North Pacific Gyre

Authors: Li Y-H.; Karl D.M.; Winn C.D.; Mackenzie F.T.; Gans K.

Source: Aquatic Geochemistry, Volume 6, Number 1, 2000 , pp. 65-85(21)

Publisher: Springer

Abstract:

Based on a new mixing model of two end-members, the water column remineralization ratios of P/N/C_org - O_2 = 1/13 ± 1/135 ± 18/170 ± 9 are obtained for the Hawaii Ocean Time-series (HOT) data set at station ALOHA. The traditional Redfield ratios of P/N/C_org/–O_2 = 1/16/106/138 have standard deviations of more than 50%, when they are based on the average composition of phytoplankton. Apparently, the remineralization processes in the water column have smoothed out the observed large variability of plankton compositions. A new molar formula for the remineralized plankton may be written as _135H_280O_105N_13P or C_25(CH_2O)_101(CH_4)_9(NH_3)_13(H_3PO_4). Oxidation of this formula results in

C_25(CH_2O)_101(CH_4)_9(NH_3)_13(H_3PO_4) + 170O_2 135CO_2 + 132H_2O + 13NO_3^- + H_2PO_4^- + 14H^+.

For comparison, remineralization using Redfield's formula gives:

(CH_2O)_106(NH_3)_16(H_3PO_4) + 138O_2 106CO_2 + 122H_2O + 16NO_3^-+ H_2PO_4^- + 17H^+

Keywords: Mixing model; preformed nutrients; Redfield ratios; Remineralization ratios

Language: English

Document Type: Regular paper

Affiliations: 1: Department of Oceanography, University of Hawaii, Honolulu, Hawaii, 96822

Publication date: 2000-01-01

• In this: publication
• By this: publisher
• In this Subject: Ecology ,  Geography ,  Geology
• By this author: Li Y-H. ;  Karl D.M. ;  Winn C.D. ;  Mackenzie F.T. ;  Gans K.

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