Sujatha, C H; Anu, Gopinath; Neema, Joseph; Nair, S M(Taylor & Francis, September 14, 2010)
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Abstract:
The distribution of three important dissolved forms of nitrogen, viz. nitrate, nitrite and urea in the surface and bottom
water samples collected from 27 selected hydrographic profiles, in the Arabian Sea, along the west coast of India is
described. Of the three forms, nitrate concentrations were the highest and comparatively higher concentrations were
observed in the bottom water. Decomposition of organic matter resulting in the release of the thermodynamically
stable nitrogen species, i.e. nitrate, may be the major factor resulting in higher nitrate concentrations at these
depths, where the water is also characterized by low values of dissolved oxygen and temperature. The significant
positive correlation between A.O.U. and nitrate of the bottom water samples emphasizes the role of oxidative
decomposition of organic matter which plays an active role in reducing the oxygen concentrations below the
theoretical values since at this depth ( 200 m) the net production is taken to be zero. This is also evidenced by
the negative correlation of nitrate with dissolved oxygen and temperature, for the bottom samples
Description:
Chemistry and Ecology, 2002, Vol. 18(3–4), pp. 233–244