Cyclonic Eddies Transiently Retain New Nitrogen Through Enhanced Nitrate Upwelling, N2 Fixation and Rapid Recycling
ID:473
Oral Presentation
2027-01-14 09:00 (China Standard Time)
Session:Session 69 - The nitrogen cycle in a changing ocean: from the process level to basin scale
Abstract
Mesoscale eddies are ubiquitous oceanic features that exert profound control on nitrogen (N) supply and cycling, yet simultaneous rate measurements of multiple N transformation processes within eddy remain sparse. Here, we present the first co-located rate measurements of N2 fixation, nitrate (NO3-) and ammonium (NH4⁺) uptake, ammonia and nitrite oxidation, and export production within a cyclonic eddy in the western North Pacific Subtropical Gyre. Compared with the edge, the eddy core exhibited enhanced NO3- upwelling and N2 fixation. Unexpectedly, enhanced new N inputs did not proportionally increase export production, but instead intensified N recycling via NH4⁺ uptake and nitrification. Depth-integrated N2 fixation, NO3- uptake, and NH4⁺ uptake rates were tightly correlated, indicating that new N inputs stimulated rapid internal N recycling within the euphotic zone. We propose that cyclonic eddies can act as transient N retention zones, temporarily delaying export and altering the fate of new N in oligotrophic oceans.
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