High Nitrite Levels off Northern Peru: A Signal of Instability in the Marine Denitrification Rate
- 12 September 1986
- journal article
- research article
- Published by American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) in Science
- Vol. 233 (4769), 1200-1202
- https://doi.org/10.1126/science.233.4769.1200
Abstract
During February and March 1985, nitrite levels along the northern (approximately 7° to 10°S) Peruvian coast were unusually high. These accumulations occurred in oxygen-deficient waters, suggesting intensified denitrification. In a shallow offshore nitrite maximum, concentrations were as high as 23 micromoles per liter (a record high). Causes for the unusual conditions may include a cold anomaly that followed the 1982-83 El Niño. The removal of combined nitrogen (approximately 3 to 10 trillion grams of nitrogen per year) within zones of new or enhanced denitrification observed between 7° to 16°S suggests a significant increase in oceanic denitrification.This publication has 10 references indexed in Scilit:
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