How significant is the water column denitrification in the Arabian Sea?
Very low levels of oxygen, below 25 µM (or 0.5 ml O2 l-¹), force heterotrophic bacteria to turn to nitrate as the next alternative oxidant. This process is predominant in intermediate layers and is characterized by the presence of secondary nitrite maximum (Sen Gupta et al., 1976). The primary nitrite maximum occurs close to the upper boundary of the thermocline and is due to nitrification during organic matter regeneration. A measure of denitrification in the water column is nitrate deficit; defined as the difference between expected nitrate released during the organic material decomposition (based on theoretical Redfield ratios) and the sum of nitrate and nitrite observed. The denitrification is very prominent in the North Arabian Sea with considerably higher nitrate deficits (upto 12 µM) found where the layer of water column experiencing denitrification is also thick (~500 m between 150 and 700 m). This layer becomes thin and nitrate deficit decreases from North to South and from Ea
Related Questions
- Is potentially contaminated water (where Cryptosporidium is not the significant contaminant) safe for washing dishes or clothes?
- How can you convert the results of the Baro-Diver measurements from cm water column (cm H2O) to atmospheric pressure (mbar)?
- Do the various colors in the footbath water have significant meaning as to certain organ systems?
