Phosphorus and silicon in sea water off Plymouth during 1954

Abstract

SUMMARY: The results of analyses of water from the International Hydrographic Station EI during 1954 are discussed. The seasonal variation is shown, in which it appears that consumption of nutrients in the spring outburst of plants was: phosphate 0.37μg atom P/l., total phosphorus 0.26μg atom P/l., silicate 2.49μg atom Si/1., these figures being means for the whole water column. Unusual changes in silicate concentrations between January and February,and between August and September, are ascribed to changes in the water mass at the station. This conclusion is supported by the temperature, salinity and phosphate.observations.