Marine Science Faculty Publications
High-Resolution In Situ Analysis of Nitrate and Phosphate in the Oligotrophic Ocean
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
2007
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
https://doi.org/10.1021/es0700855
Abstract
Accurate, high-resolution profiles of nitrate and phosphate distributions in the open ocean are difficult to obtain using conventional techniques. Concentrations typically range from low nanomolar levels in the stratified euphotic zone to micromolar levels below the nutricline. With multiple pumps, a heating cartridge, a long-path-length cell, and a multiwavelength spectrometer, the reconfigured Spectrophotometric Elemental Analysis System (SEAS) provides the capability to fully ascertain the distributions of nitrate and phosphate in the upper 200 m of the oligotrophic ocean. By utilizing a 15 cm path length and multiple wavelength spectrophotometry, SEAS can detect nitrate concentrations from 2 nM to 20 μM and, with a 50 cm path length, can accurately measure phosphate concentrations from 1 nM to 1 μM. SEAS is capable of collecting auxiliary data from up to four separate instruments, including a CTD, a fluorometer, a PAR sensor, and a second SEAS instrument. Sampling frequency depends on peripheral instrument selection and ranges from 0.4 to 0.75 Hz.
Was this content written or created while at USF?
Yes
Citation / Publisher Attribution
Environmental Science & Technology, v. 41, issue 11, p. 4045-4052
Scholar Commons Citation
Adornato, Lori R.; Kaltenbacher, Eric A.; Greenhow, Danielle R.; and Byrne, Robert H., "High-Resolution In Situ Analysis of Nitrate and Phosphate in the Oligotrophic Ocean" (2007). Marine Science Faculty Publications. 1640.
https://digitalcommons.usf.edu/msc_facpub/1640
