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Lookup NU author(s): Dr Vassilis Kitidis, Dr Guenther Uher, Professor Robert Upstill-GoddardORCiD
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We investigated the photoproduction of ammonium (NH4+) in surface waters of the Cyprus gyre in the central Eastern Mediterranean in May 2002, in 8 on deck irradiations with freshly collected, filtered samples. NH4+ photoproduction (photoammonification) increased with time-integrated irradiance during the course of irradiations. Photoammonification rates around local noon were 0.4-2.9nmol L-1 h-1. Normalised to time integrated irradiance, these rates were 0.9-3.8 pmol L-1 h-1/(W m-2) and were significantly correlated with Chromophoric Dissolved Organic Matter (CDOM) absorbance at 300 nm normalised to Dissolved Organic Carbon (DOC). These results are consistent with the notion that successive CDOM photobleaching in the surface mixed layer results in decreased DOC-normalised light absorbance concurrent with decreased dissolved organic matter reactivity with regard to photochemical NH4+ release. Combining our experimental data with estimates of annual solar irradiance and water column light attenuation yields an annual photoammonification rate for the Cyprus Gyre of 40±17mmolm-2 a-1, equivalent to ∼12±5% of the previously estimated annual nitrogen requirement of new production in this region. Based on this analysis, NH4+ photoproduction makes a small, but significant contribution to the nitrogen budget of the euphotic zone in the oligotrophic Cyprus Gyre.
Author(s): Kitidis V, Uher G, Upstill-Goddard RC, Mantoura RFC, Spyres G, Woodward EMS
Publication type: Article
Publication status: Published
Journal: Biogeosciences Discussions
Year: 2006
Volume: 3
Issue: 3
Pages: 449-474
Print publication date: 01/01/2006
ISSN (print): 1810-6277
ISSN (electronic): 1810-6285
Publisher: Copernicus GmbH
URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.5194/bgd-3-449-2006
DOI: 10.5194/bgd-3-449-2006
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