Time-series observation of dissolved inorganic carbon and nutrients in the northwestern North Pacific

Time-series measurements of dissolved inorganic carbon (DIC) and nutrient concentrations were conducted in the northwestern North Pacific from October 2002 to August 2004. Assuming that data obtained in different years represented time-series seasonal data for a single year, vertical distributions of DIC and nutrients showed large seasonal variabilities in the surface layer (∼100 m). Seasonal variabilities in normalized DIC (nDIC) and nitrate concentrations at the sea surface were estimated to be 81–113 μmol kg⁻¹ and 12.7–15.7 μmol kg⁻¹, respectively, in the Western Subarctic Gyre. The variability in nutrients between May and July was generally at least double that in other seasons. In the Western Subarctic Gyre, estimations based on statistical analyses revealed that seasonal new production was 39–61 gC m⁻² and tended to be higher in the southwestern regions or coastal regions. The seasonal new productions in the northwestern North Pacific were two or more times higher than in the North Pacific subtropical gyre and the northeastern North Pacific. It is likely that this difference is due to spatial variations in the concentrations of trace metals and the species of phytoplankton present. In addition, from estimations of surface pCO₂ it was verified that the Western Subarctic Gyre is a source of atmospheric CO₂ between February and May and a sink for CO₂ between July and October.     

赤道太平洋上层水体颗粒态生物硅分布及与营养盐的关系

依托中国“大洋一号”第20和第21调查航次,分析测定了东、西赤道太平洋4个站位的颗粒态生物硅浓度及其粒级结构。结果显示赤道太平洋采样站各层位颗粒态生物硅(PBSi)总浓度分布范围为5~65 nmol/dm³,东赤道太平洋的调查站位颗粒态生物硅的总浓度平均值达46 nmol/dm³,是西赤道太平洋的近3倍。PBSi的粒径结果显示在东赤道太平洋调查站位0.8~20 μm粒径颗粒是PBSi的主要来源,其平均贡献率高达64%;而在西赤道太平洋2种粒径的生物硅贡献率相当。营养盐分布对PBSi的浓度及粒径分布有显著的影响,并在一定程度上控制了“硅质泵”的组成结构,是控制大洋生物泵运转的重要因素。     

1982-2016年北极开阔水域变化

近30年来,北极海冰覆盖范围大幅缩减,开阔水域也相应地发生显著变化。本文利用美国雪冰中心的海冰密集度产品以及美国海洋和大气科学管理局的海水表面温度数据产品,分析了1982-2016年北极开阔水域面积以及开阔水域季节长度的年际变化,并进一步探讨了海水表面温度对开阔水域时空变化的影响。结果表明北极开阔水域面积平均每年增加55.89×103 km2,海冰消退时间以平均0.77 d/a的速度在提前,海冰出现时间以平均0.82 d/a的速度在延迟,导致开阔水域季节长度以平均1.59 d/a的速度在增加。2016年达到了有遥感观测资料以来开阔水域面积和开阔水域季节长度的最大值,分别为13.52×106 km2和182 d。9个海区的开阔水域变化特征有一定的差异,对开阔水域变化贡献最大的有北冰洋核心区、喀拉海和巴伦支海。海水表面温度对开阔水域的变化有着重要影响,且影响的程度与纬度相关,即高纬度地区的海水表面温度对开阔水域的影响高于低纬度地区。     

基于FerryBox的渤海海峡水质低成本长期自动监测

FerryBox是一套全自动、实时的水生生态监测系统,具有多参数、低维护、低成本、监测覆盖范围广、可持续性强等诸多优点。2015年10月~2016年7月,作者通过将其安装在一条频繁返于烟台-大连之间的货船上,实现了10个月的渤海海峡水质低成本长期自动监测。监测结果表明,渤海海峡水环境因子在时空分布上存在显著的南北差异,秋季海峡南部海域的表层浊度及pH均高于中部及北部海域;冬季海峡北部海域的表层温度、盐度和浊度均大于南部海域;进入春季以后海峡中南部海域为表层叶绿素a浓度高值区。季风、黄海暖流以及渤海环流等因素是造成渤海海峡水环境因子南北差异的主要原因。春、夏季渤海海峡营养盐监测结果表明,渤海海峡营养盐的时空分布具有明显的季节性和区域性特征,在时间变化上整体呈现初春和夏末较高,在空间分布上整体呈现海峡两侧高于海峡中部。海底冷水团颗粒物的分解、藻类繁殖、地表径流以及渤海环流等,是影响渤海海峡春、夏季营养盐时空分布的重要因素。春季渤海海峡浮游生物生长受硅和磷的双重限制,夏季主要受磷限制。     

在流水系统中浒苔对营养盐吸收和转化的模拟实验

在实验室内选用不进行营养盐加富的流水系统模拟研究了浒苔（Ulva prolifera）对海水营养盐的吸收,测定了浒苔体内不同形态的碳、氮、磷的含量变化,探讨了浒苔对海水中碳、氮、磷3种生源要素的转化作用。结果显示,流动海水的实验体系是一个能给藻体创造稳定环境的模拟装置,可以不断地给藻体更新海水和补充营养盐。浒苔对海水中溶解无机氮（DIN）、溶解有机氮（DON）、溶解无机磷（DIP）和溶解有机磷（DOP）都有吸收作用,其平均吸收速率分别为10.87 μmol·g^-1·d^-1、2.41 μmol·g^-1·d^-1、0.183 μmol·g^-1·d^-1和0.023 μmol·g^-1·d^-1。光照时段的DTN和DTP的平均吸收速率与无光照时段的平均吸收速率没有显著差异（P>0.05）。浒苔对海水中无机形态的营养盐的吸收量高于对该元素的有机形态的吸收量;而浒苔的体内有机形态的成分均远高于无机形态的成分。浒苔对无机形态的氮、磷和碳转化为自身有机形态的转化效率分别为：97.33%,99.99%和96.84%。以上结果表明,浒苔能快速吸收无机形态的生源要素并转化为有机形态,能够加快生源物质进入生态系统的物质循环。     

有机改性黏土对海水中营养盐及主要水质因子的影响

为了阐明黏土方法治理有害赤潮的生态环境效应，研究了有机改性黏土对海水中营养盐和溶解氧、化学耗氧量、pH等主要水质因子的影响。结果表明，有机改性黏土对营养盐，尤其是磷酸盐有一定的吸附作用，吸附量随水体中磷酸盐浓度的增加而增大，不同有机改性黏土对海水中磷酸盐的吸附能力为：有机改性黏土Ⅰ〉有机改性黏土Ⅱ〉有机改性黏土Ⅲ。通过有机改性黏土对磷酸盐的吸附再释放作用研究，进一步探讨了磷酸盐释放作用对赤潮异弯藻（Heterosigma akashiwo）、东海原甲藻（Prorocentrum donghaiense）等赤潮生物生长的影响。实验结果表明，经过有机改性的黏土有利于提高其对磷酸盐的吸附能力，降低对磷酸盐的解吸率，缓解海水富营养化程度，虽然少量被吸附的磷酸盐能缓慢释放，但仍不足以维持赤潮生物的正常生长。同时利用有机改性黏土治理赤潮能显著改善溶解氧、pH、化学耗氧量等水质指标，有利于治理赤潮后的环境修复。     

北太平洋亚热带环流区与西太平洋暖池区浮游动物群落垂直分布的差异及其对碳通量的意义

The mesozooplankton in both epipelagic and mesopelagic zones is essentially important for the study of ecosystem and biological carbon pump. Previous studies showed that the diel vertical migration(DVM) pattern of mesozooplankton varied among ecosystems. However, that pattern was largely unknown in the Western Pacific Warm Pool(WPWP). The vertical distribution, DVM and community structure of mesozooplankton from the surface to 1 000 m were compared at Stas JL7K(WPWP) and MA(North Pacific Subtropical Gyre, NPSG). Two sites showed similarly low biomass in both epipelagic and mesopelagic zones, which were in accordance with oligotrophic conditions of these two ecosystems. Stronger DVM(night/day ratio) was found at JL7K(1.31) than that at MA(1.09) on surface 0–100 m, and an obvious night increase of mesopelagic biomass was observed at JL7K, which was probably due to migrators from bathypelagic zone. Active carbon flux by DVM of zooplankton was estimated to be 0.23 mmol/(m2·d) at JL7K and 0.16 mmol/(m~2·d) at MA. The community structure analysis showed that calanoid copepods, cnidarians and appendicularians were the main contributors to DVM of mesozooplankton at both sites. We also compared the present result with previous studies of the two ecosystems,and suggested that the DVM of mesozooplankton was more homogeneous within the WPWP and more variable within the NPSG, though both ecosystems showed typically extremely oligotrophic conditions. The different diel vertical migration strength of mesozooplankton between NPSG and WPWP implied different efficiency of carbon pump in these two ecosystems.     

Latitudinal Differences in the Planktonic Biomass and Community Structure Down to the Greater Depths in the Western North Pacific

As part of the research program WEST-COSMIC Phase I (1997–2001), vertical profiles down to the greater depths (0–2000 m or 5800 m) of the plankton community structure composed of heterotrophic bacteria, phytoplankton, protozooplankton and metazooplankton were studied at one station in each subarctic (44°N) and in transitional region (39°N), and two stations in subtropical region (30°N and 25°N); all in 137–155°E in the western North Pacific Ocean. The biomass of all four taxonomic groups decreased rapidly with increasing depths at all stations, although the magnitude of depth-related decrease differed among the groups. As plankton community structure, metazooplankton biomass and bacterial biomass occupied >50% of the total in 0–2000 and 2000–4000 or 5000 m strata, respectively, at subarctic and transitional stations, while bacterial biomass contributed to >50% of the total consistently from 0 through 4800 or 5800 m at subtropical stations. Metazooplankton biomass integrated over the greater depths exhibited a clear latitudinal pattern (high north and low south), but this was not the case for those of the other taxonomic groups. As a component of metazooplankton, an appreciable contribution of diapausing copepods to the metazooplankton was noted at subarctic and transitional stations, but they were few or nil at subtropical stations. As protozooplankton assemblages, heterotrophic microflagellates (HMF) and dinoflagellates were two major components at subarctic and transitional stations, but were only HMF predominated at subtropical stations. From biomass ratios between heterotrophic bacteria, HMF and dinoflagellates, “sinking POC-DOC-heterotrophic bacteria-HMF-heterotrophic dinoflagellates” link was proposed as a microbial food chain operative in the deep layer of the western North Pacific. All results are discussed in the light of latitudinal differences in the structure and functioning of plankton community contributing to the ‘biological pump’ in the western North Pacific Ocean. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

深海综合观测浮标研制及其在热带西太平洋的应用

目前尽管国内近海浮标实现了产品化,但深远海尚无定型可靠的深海综合观测浮标系统,基于此,中国科学院海洋研究所设计制作了深海综合观测浮标系统,其浮标体为柱台型结构,采用单点锚泊系留。整个系统主要由浮标体、系留子系统、观测子系统、数据采集处理控制子系统、通信子系统、供电子系统、检测子系统、安全报警子系统和岸基数据接收处理子系统等9部分组成。浮标系统通过搭载不同类型的传感器,实现对风速/风向、气温、相对湿度、气压、能见度、雨量、波浪、表层水温、表层盐度、表层溶解氧、表层叶绿素、表层浊度、剖面流速流向、剖面温盐深(最大深度可达1 000 m)、方位及浮标位置等要素进行实时观测,从而完成对海洋气象、水文和水质等要素的长期、连续、自动监测,并支持铱星和北斗等卫星通信方式,将观测数据实时的传输到岸基数据接收处理系统。近年来,深海综合观测浮标系统在热带西太平洋海域连续进行了4次海上应用,每次应用时间长达1 a。它提供了第一手的大洋上层和海气界面长时间序列的实时连续观测资料,促进了关于气候变化和深海大洋的研究工作。所研制的深海浮标达到目前国际同类产品(美国ATLAS浮标、日本TRITON浮标)的先进水平,...     

Temporal and spatial distribution characteristics of nutrients in Clarion-Clipperton Fracture Zone in the Pacific in 2017

This research investigated eight stations in Clarion-Clipperton Fracture Zone(CCFZ) in the eastern tropical Pacific in 2017 to study the spatial distribution characteristics of nutrients and chlorophyll a(Chl a) concentration,and compared nutrient concentrations and molar ratios with those of other investigations 20 years ago in the same area. The study found that dissolved inorganic nutrient(N, P and Si) concentrations were lowest in the upper layer, and increased from surface to some depths, t...     

Climatological annual cycles of nutrients and chlorophyll in the North Sea

A large amount of nutrient and chlorophyll data from the North Sea were compiled and organised in a research data base to produce annual cycles on a relatively fine spatial resolution of 1° in each horizontal direction. The data originate from many different sources and were partly provided by the ECOMOD data base of the Institut fur Meereskunde in Hamburg and partly by ICES in Copenhagen to cover the time range from 1950 to 1994. While the annual cycles of nutrients and chlorophyll derived for the continental coastal zone are representative for the decade 1984–1993 only, those for the remaining parts of the North Sea may be considered climatological annual cycles based on data from more than four decades. The composite data set of climatological annual cycles of medians and their climatological ranges is well suited to serve for validational and forcing purposes for ecosystem models of the North Sea, which have a resolution larger than or equal to 1° in both longitude and latitude. The annual cycles of the macronutrients and chlorophyll presented here for 1° × 1° squares in the North Sea show especially that sufficient observational data exist to provide initial, forcing and validational data for the simulations with the 130-box setup (ND130) of the ecosystem model ERSEM. The annual cycles presented give a clear picture for the whole of the North Sea. The highest concentrations occur at the continental coasts as a result of continued river input, which is added to the ongoing atmospheric input over the North Sea. Also, from the Atlantic Ocean water with relatively high nutrient concentrations enters the North Sea via the northern boundary. In the productive areas on and around the Dogger Bank nutrient concentrations are lower than in the other parts of the North Sea, even in winter. The areas with seasonal stratification have very different annual cycles in the upper (0–30 m) and lower layers (30 m-bottom). The shallow boxes are fully mixed and exhibit a relatively fast increase of nutrient concentrations caused by summer regeneration of nutrients.     

Ventilation of the North Pacific subtropical pycnocline and mode water formation

The annual subduction rate of the North Pacific was calculated based on isopycnally averaged hydrographic climatology (HydroBase), high-resolution winter mixed-layer climatology (NWMLC), and various wind stress climatologies from ship reports, numerical weather prediction products, and satellite products. The calculation was performed using Lagrangian coordinates in the same manner as in previous works, except a less smoothed oceanic climatology (HydroBase and NWMLC) was used instead of a World Ocean Atlas. Differences in the wind stress climatologies have very little effect on subduction rate estimates. The subduction rate census for density classes showed peaks corresponding to subtropical mode water (STMW), central mode water (CMW), and eastern subtropical mode water (ESTMW). The deeper mixed layer and the associated sharper mixed-layer fronts in the present climatology resulted in a larger lateral induction, which boosted the subduction rate, especially for the potential density anomaly (σ_θ) range of the lighter STMW (25.0 < σ_θ < 25.2 kg m⁻³) and lighter CMW (26.0 < σ_θ < 26.2 kg m⁻³), compared to previous estimates. The renewal time of permanent pycnocline water was estimated as the volume of water divided by the subduction rate for each σ_θ class: 2–4 years for ESTMW (24.5 < σ_θ < 25.2 kg m⁻³), 2 years for the lighter STMW (25.0 < σ_θ < 25.3 kg m⁻³), 5–9 years for the denser STMW (25.3 < σ_θ < 25.6 kg m⁻³), 10–20 years for the lighter CMW (26.0 < σ_θ < 26.2 kg m⁻³), 20–30 years for the middle CMW (26.2 < σ_θ < 26.3 kg m⁻³), and 60 years or longer for the denser CMW (26.3 < σ_θ < 26.6 kg m⁻³). A comparison of the water volume and subduction rate in potential temperature–salinity (θ–S) space indicated that the upper permanent pycnocline water (25.0 < σ_θ < 26.2 kg m⁻³) was directly maintained by nondiffusive subduction of winter surface water, including STMW and lighter CMW. The lower permanent pycnocline water (26.2 < σ_θ < 26.6 kg m⁻³) may be maintained through the subduction of fresher and colder water from the subarctic–subtropical transition region and subsequent mixing with saltier and warmer water. Diagnosis of the potential vorticity (PV) of the subducted water demonstrated that the low PV of STMW was mainly due to the large subduction rate, whereas that of both ESTMW and CMW was due mainly to the small density advection rate (cross-isopycnal flow). Additionally, a relatively large subduction rate probably contributes to the low PV of part of the lighter CMW (ESTMW) formed in the region around 38°N and 170°W (28°N and 145°W), which is characterized by a relatively thick winter mixed layer and an associated mixed-layer front, causing a large lateral induction rate.     

Exchange fluxes of nutrients between sediment and sea water in the Bohai Sea

IrocrIowThere is a linkage in shallow marine systerns between sea-noor biOgaxhemical pmeessesand water column pnductivity (Bereson et al., l998). Benthic fluxes provide a significantsource of nutrients to the overlying water tO supPOrt primary pnduction and play a role in de-.creasing oxygen concentrations (van et al., l999; Cowan and Boynton, l996; Berelson etal., 1998; Friedl et al., l998; Zabel et al., l998). TherefOre, it is imPOrtant to define theediment di8genetic pathways for the …     

Spatial and seasonal variations of sulphate,dissolved organic carbon,and nutrients in deep pore waters of intertidal flat sediments

Spatial and seasonal variations of sulphate, dissolved organic carbon (DOC), nutrients and metabolic products were determined down to 5 m sediment depth in pore waters of intertidal flats located in NW Germany. The impact of sediment permeability, pore water flow, and organic matter supply on deep pore water biogeochemistry was evaluated. Low sediment permeability leads to an enrichment of remineralisation products in pore waters of clay-rich sediments. In permeable sandy sediments pore water biogeochemistry differs depending on whether tidal flat margins or central parts of the tidal flat are studied. Pore water flow in tidal flat margins increases organic matter input. Substrate availability and enhanced temperatures in summer stimulate sulphate reducers down to 3.5 m sediment depth. Sulphate, DOC, and nutrient concentrations exhibit seasonal variations in deep permeable sediments of the tidal flat margin. In contrast, seasonal variations are small in deep pore waters of central parts of the sand flat. This study shows for the first time that seasonal variations in pore water chemistry are not limited to surface sediments, but may be observed down to some metres depth in permeable tidal flat margin sediments. In such systems more organic matter seems to be remineralised than deduced from surface sediment studies.     

Active exchange of water and nutrients between seawater and shallow pore water in intertidal sandflats

In order to determine the temporal and spatial variations of nutrient profiles in the shallow pore water columns (upper 30 cm depth) of intertidal sandflats, we measured the salinity and nutrient concentrations in pore water and seawater at various coastal environments along the southern coast of Korea. In the intertidal zone, salinity and nutrient concentrations in pore water showed marked vertical changes with depth, owing to the active exchange between the pore water and overlying seawater, while they are temporally more stable and vertically constant in the sublittoral zone. In some cases, the advective flow of fresh groundwater caused strong vertical gradients of salinity and nutrients in the upper 10 cm depth of surface sediments, indicating the active mixing of the fresher groundwater with overlying seawater. Such upper pore water column profiles clearly signified the temporal fluctuation of lower-salinity and higher-Si seawater intrusion into pore water in an intertidal sandflat near the mouth of an estuary. We also observed a semimonthly fluctuation of pore water nutrients due to spring-neap tide associated recirculation of seawater through the upper sediments. Our study shows that the exchange of water and nutrients between shallow pore water and overlying seawater is most active in the upper 20 cm layer of intertidal sandflats, due to physical forces such as tides, wave set-up, and density-thermal gradient.     

Reconstruction of subsurface DIC and alkalinity fields in the North Pacific using assimilation of upper ocean data

The subsurface water beneath the summer mixed layer is important to air–sea carbon flux, while its geochemical properties are not frequently observed. A data assimilation method is applied to determine the geochemical fields in the subsurface (i.e., 100 m) from the data collected at the surface in the North Pacific. This method, in the family of the inverse methods, is constructed on a one-dimensional bulk mixed layer model. In addition to temperature and salinity, dissolved inorganic carbon (DIC) and alkalinity are also considered as model variables, whereas biological productivity is omitted. The geochemical properties increase from the fall to the winter, which is the period simulated by the model, as the mixed layer develops and entrains subsurface water rich in DIC and alkalinity. Consequently, the geochemical fields in the mixed layer must have extremely sharp north–south gradients in the western region of the North Pacific and can be reproduced only by enhancing the north–south gradients in the subsurface. The fields reconstructed by the data assimilation provide useful information about the biogeochemical cycles. It is suggested that the large difference in DIC between the surface and the subsurface in the northwestern region is produced by transporting DIC from the mixed layer to the subsurface in the summer, implying extremely high biological productivity. Furthermore, it is suggested that high DIC in the ambient water is maintained by the upwelling of lower layer water.     

Spatial and seasonal variations in the water quality of Jinhae Bay,Korea

The chemical and biological characteristics of surface waters in Jinhae Bay were investigated over four seasons to understand water quality in light of the growing industrialisation occurring within this area. Jinhae Bay includes four smaller bays: Masan; Hangam; Jindong; and Gohyun. The water quality in Jinhae Bay varied spatially and seasonally. The water quality of both Hangam Bay and Masan Bay was highly degraded, demonstrating high concentrations of ammonia, nitrate, chlorophyll a and particulate organic carbon. Contamination from sewage was the dominant cause of the water quality deterioration in these bays. Conversely, the water quality in Jindong Bay and Gohyun Bay was not as severely affected as that of the above two bays. Water quality in Jinhae Bay was particularly poor in summer when nutrient loading was highest due to the run-off associated with high precipitation. Principal component analysis indicated that nitrogen contamination was a major factor influencing the water quality of Jinhae Bay. The effective reduction in high-nitrogen discharges is essential to improve water quality in Jinghae Bay.     

北太平洋副热带模态水形成区混合层热动力过程诊断分析

利用NCEP海洋数据和COADS海气通量资料,通过诊断分析,揭示了海表热力强迫、垂直夹卷、埃克曼平流和地转平流效应在北太平洋副热带模态水形成过程中的贡献。研究表明,在北太平洋副热带3个模态水形成海域冬季混合层降温过程中,海表热力强迫和垂直夹卷效应是主导因素,二者的相对贡献分别约为67%和19%(西部模态水)、53%和21%(中部模态水)、65%和30%(东部模态水);并且在东部模态水形成海域,埃克曼平流和地转平流皆是暖平流效应,而在西部和中部模态水形成海域,仅有地转平流是暖平流效应。进一步的分析表明,海洋平流(地转平流、埃克曼平流)对北太平洋副热带模态水形成海域秋、冬季混合层温度的年际、年代际异常有显著影响,在西部模态水形成海域,海表热力强迫(62%)和地转平流(32%)是导致混合层温度年际、年代际变化的主要因子;在中部模态水形成海域,混合层温度的年际、年代际变化是埃克曼平流(32%)、地转平流(30%)和海表热力强迫(25%)共同作用的结果;相对而言,东部模态水形成海域混合层温度的年际、年代际异常主要受海表热力强迫(67%)控制。     

High frequency measurements of dissolved inorganic and organic nutrients using instrumented moorings in the southern and central North Sea

The aim of this study was to investigate the cycling of dissolved inorganic and organic nutrients using moored instrumented buoys (SmartBuoys) during the spring bloom in the North Sea. The instrumentation on the buoys enabled high frequency measurements of water-column integrated irradiance and in situ chlorophyll to be made, and also preserved water sample collection which were used for dissolved inorganic and organic nutrient analyses. The SmartBuoys were located in the year-round well-mixed plume zone associated with the River Thames and in the summer stratified central North Sea. These site locations allowed comparison of nutrient concentrations and cycling, and spring bloom development at two contrasting sites. The spring bloom was expected to be initiated at both stations due to increasing insolation and decreasing suspended load leading to higher water-column integrated irradiance. Due to differences in suspended load between the sites, the spring bloom started ∼2 months earlier in the central North Sea. The spring bloom in the Thames plume also resulted in higher maximum phytoplankton biomass due to the higher pre-bloom nutrient concentrations associated with riverine input. The use of SmartBuoys is also shown to allow the cycling of dissolved organic nutrients to be examined over the critical, and often undersampled, spring bloom period. Dissolved Organic Nitrogen (DON) clearly increased during the spring bloom in the central North Sea compared to winter concentrations. DON also increased in the Thames plume although showing greater winter variability related to higher riverine and sedimentary dissolved organic matter input at this shallow (∼18 m) coastal site. DON increase during the spring bloom was therefore related to primary production at both sites probably due to active release by phytoplankton. At both stations DON decreased to pre-bloom concentrations as the bloom declined suggesting the released DON was bioavailable and removed due to heterotrophic uptake and production. The preserved nutrient samples from the central North Sea site were also suitable for Dissolved Organic Phosphorus (DOP) analysis due to their low suspended load with similar trends and cycling to DON, albeit at lower concentrations. This suggested similar processes controlling both DON and DOP. The variable timing of short term events such as the spring bloom makes sampling away from coastal regions difficult without the use of autonomous technology. This study demonstrates for the first time the applicability of using preserved samples from automated buoys for the measurement of dissolved organic nutrients.