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- Title
A nitrogen budget for the Strait of Georgia, British Columbia.
- Authors
Sutton, J. N.; Johannessen, S. C.; Macdonald, R. W.
- Abstract
Balanced budgets for dissolved inorganic N (DIN) and particulate N (PN) were constructed for the Strait of Georgia (SoG), a semi-enclosed coastal sea off the west coast of British Columbia, Canada. The dominant control on the N budget is the advection of DIN into and out of the SoG via Haro Strait. The annual influx of DIN by advection from the Pacific Ocean is 29 990 (±19 500) Mmolyr-1. The DIN flux advected out of the SoG is 24 300 (±15 500) Mmolyr-1. Most of the DIN that enters the SoG (~23 400 Mmolyr-1) is converted to particulate N (PN) in situ by primary production. However, most of the PN produced by primary production is remineralized (~22 000 Mmolyr-1) back into DIN within the top 50 m. The PN budget for the SoG was further constrained by nitrogen isotope composition (δ15N) that indicated regional differences in the source of PN. The southern Strait receives a much higher proportion of terrigenous PN, relative to marine PN, than does the northern Strait. The difference is due to the influence of the Fraser River, which discharges 1950 Mmolyr-1 of PN and 1660 Mmolyr-1of DIN into the southern Strait. The overall anthropogenic contribution of PN and DIN to the SoG is minimal relative to natural sources (> 30000 Mmolyr-1). It is unlikely that the Strait will be affected by eutrophication in the near future, although anthropogenic N sources, such as wastewater outfalls, may have significant local effects.
- Subjects
STRAIT of Georgia (B.C. &; Wash.); BRITISH Columbia; NITROGEN content of seawater; COASTS; ANTHROPOGENIC effects on nature; EUTROPHICATION; PRIMARY productivity (Biology)
- Publication
Biogeosciences Discussions, 2013, Vol 10, Issue 4, p7135
- ISSN
1810-6277
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.5194/bgd-10-7135-2013