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Spatial coupling of nitrogen inputs and losses in the ocean

Nature volume 445, pages 163–167 (2007)Cite this article

Abstract

Nitrogen fixation is crucial for maintaining biological productivity in the oceans, because it replaces the biologically available nitrogen that is lost through denitrification. But, owing to its temporal and spatial variability, the global distribution of marine nitrogen fixation is difficult to determine from direct shipboard measurements. This uncertainty limits our understanding of the factors that influence nitrogen fixation, which may include iron, nitrogen-to-phosphorus ratios, and physical conditions such as temperature. Here we determine nitrogen fixation rates in the world’s oceans through their impact on nitrate and phosphate concentrations in surface waters, using an ocean circulation model. Our results indicate that nitrogen fixation rates are highest in the Pacific Ocean, where water column denitrification rates are high but the rate of atmospheric iron deposition is low. We conclude that oceanic nitrogen fixation is closely tied to the generation of nitrogen-deficient waters in denitrification zones, supporting the view that nitrogen fixation stabilizes the oceanic inventory of fixed nitrogen over time.

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Figure 1: Schematic depiction of method to determine N 2 fixation from NO 3 - and PO 4 3- uptake.
Figure 2: Annual mean distribution of P*, ocean currents, and the N 2 fixation rates determined from them at 0–120 m depth.

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Acknowledgements

C.D. was supported by a NASA Earth System Science Fellowship and the UW Program on Climate Change. J.L.S. and N.G. acknowledge support from the Office of Science (BER) and the US Department of Energy. J.L.S. also acknowledges support from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. D.M.S. acknowledges support from the US NSF.

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Author notes

  1. Nicolas Gruber

    Present address: Institute of Biogeochemistry and Pollutant Dynamics, ETH Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Program on Climate Change, School of Oceanography, University of Washington, Washington, 98195, Seattle, USA

    Curtis Deutsch

  2. Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences Program, Princeton University, New Jersey, 08544, Princeton, USA

    Jorge L. Sarmiento

  3. Department of Geosciences, Guyot Hall, Princeton University, New Jersey, 08544, Princeton, USA

    Daniel M. Sigman

  4. IGPP and Department of Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences, University of California at Los Angeles, California, 90095, Los Angeles, USA

    Nicolas Gruber

  5. NOAA/Geophysical Fluid Dynamics Laboratory, PO Box 308, Forrestal Campus B Site, New Jersey, 08542, Princeton, USA

    John P. Dunne

Authors
  1. Curtis Deutsch
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  2. Jorge L. Sarmiento
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Correspondence to Curtis Deutsch.

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Supplementary Information

This file contains SupplementaryNotes describing sensitivity studies, Supplementary Figues 1-9 with legends and Supplementary Table 1 supporting Supplementary Notes. (PDF 655 kb)

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Deutsch, C., Sarmiento, J., Sigman, D. et al. Spatial coupling of nitrogen inputs and losses in the ocean. Nature 445, 163–167 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1038/nature05392

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