STARDUST II - Spatial and Temporal Assessment
of high Resolution Depth profiles Using novel Sampling Technologies The fate of pollutants in fluvial and marine sediments in cross-border zones
Temporal variability in dissolved inorganic nitrogen fluxes at the sediment-water interface and related annual budget on a continental shelf (NW Mediterranean)
Denis, L.; Grenz, C.; Alliot, E.; Rodier, M. (2001). Temporal variability in dissolved inorganic nitrogen fluxes at the sediment-water interface and related annual budget on a continental shelf (NW Mediterranean). Oceanol. Acta 24(1): 85-97
Sediment-water dissolved inorganic nitrogen fluxes were measured monthly between November 1997 and January 1999 at two sites on the continental shelf in the Gulf of Lions. Exchanges of ammonium, nitrate and nitrite were measured using whole core incubations performed in the laboratory at in situ temperature and in the dark. Stations were located on the shelf and near the shelf break. Nitrate release represented the major part of total dissolved inorganic nitrogen fluxes (52-98%). At station Sofi, nitrate flux doubled from winter-early spring to August (4 to 10 µmol m-2 h-1). At station R, a large increase (2 to 14 µmol m-2 h-1) was recorded between December 1997 and January 1998, after which flux tended to decrease. Ammonium flux was generally directed out of the sediment, and was lower at station Sofi than at station R. Nitrite flux was always less than 1 µmol m-2 h-1. A large part of the temporal variability observed at station R could be attributed to the input of organic matter associated with the discharge of the Rhône River. On the contrary, the influence of the Rhône River is limited at station Sofi, and the spring phytoplankton bloom deposition was probably the major cause of temporal variability. Comparisons of total fluxes with diffusive fluxes suggested a high nitrification rate in the upper centimetre of the sediment. Annual dissolved inorganic nitrogen release from sediments, equivalent to 20-34% of the Rhône River inputs, may contribute 4-8% of the requirements for primary production in the Gulf of Lions.
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STARDUST II is a project funded by the INTERREG III A programme (France/Walloon Region/Flanders
French-Flemish subprogramme) of the European Community's Regional Development Fund.
Hosted by the Flanders Marine Institute (VLIZ)
