A subsurface nitrite maximum was observed along one transection near the Xisha Islands in the South China Sea in early September 2009. Possible causes were examined using in situ observed data and remote sensing data. A cold eddy was identified near the Xisha Islands during the periods of study. The Xisha Islands' water receives copious supplies of nutrients through cold eddies. Accumulation of nitrite about 50 m deep reaches 0.49 μmol l−1, and forms and maintains the primary nitrite maximum. The relationship between NO2− and Chl-a is very significant (R2 = 0.5829, p-value(statistical significance) = 0.00). Nitrification processes would result in apparent oxygen utilization (AOU) ranging from 0.22 to 35.88 μM, around 24.60% of the total biological oxygen demand in the water column of under-saturation of dissolved oxygen. This value is very close to the Redfield stoichiometry (32/138 = 23%) of total oxygen consumption associated with organic matter diagenesis. These results may support the hypothesis that phytoplankton and the nitrification process have an important influence on the PNM or 260 maintenance in the euphotic layer. Our results indicate that physical conditions and biological activities near the Xisha Islands play a significant role in regulating biogeochemistry.
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October 2, 2015
Research Article|
October 02 2015
Primary nitrite maximum in the euphotic layer near the Xisha Islands, South China Sea
Mei-Lin Wu;
Mei-Lin Wu
State Key Laboratory of Tropical Oceanography, South China Sea Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou 510301, China
Xisha Deep Sea Marine Environment Observation Station, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Sansha 573199, China
*Corresponding author: mlwu@scsio.ac.cn
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Qin-Yan Liu;
Qin-Yan Liu
State Key Laboratory of Tropical Oceanography, South China Sea Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou 510301, China
Xisha Deep Sea Marine Environment Observation Station, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Sansha 573199, China
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Jun-De Dong;
Jun-De Dong
State Key Laboratory of Tropical Oceanography, South China Sea Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou 510301, China
Key Laboratory of Marine Bio-resources Sustainable Utilization, South China Sea Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou 510301, China
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Dong-Xiao Wang
Dong-Xiao Wang
State Key Laboratory of Tropical Oceanography, South China Sea Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou 510301, China
Xisha Deep Sea Marine Environment Observation Station, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Sansha 573199, China
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Aquatic Ecosystem Health & Management (2015) 18 (4): 414–423.
Citation
Mei-Lin Wu, Qin-Yan Liu, Jun-De Dong, You-Shao Wang, Dong-Xiao Wang; Primary nitrite maximum in the euphotic layer near the Xisha Islands, South China Sea. Aquatic Ecosystem Health & Management 2 October 2015; 18 (4): 414–423. doi: https://doi.org/10.1080/14634988.2015.1115321
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