THE N/P RATIO IN THE NORTHERN SOUTH YELLOW SEA IN AUTUMN

摘要

Study of horizontal and vertical distributions of the N/P (nitrogen v ersus phosphate) atom ratio in the northern South Yellow Sea showed that the ratio varied greatly in u pper waters of the investigated area and was always much greater than the theoretical Redfield rat io of 16:1 found below the thermocline zone. It was in general higher near the coast and lower in the centr al part. With increasing depth, the ratio became smaller and smaller. This distribution pattern is attrib uted to: 1) the anthropogenic influence of the surface N and P which makes the N/P ratio differ from the norma l value; 2) the easy adsorption of P on particles hinders P transport to the central part; 3) below t he thermocline zone, the N and P mainly come from the remineralization of the sedimented phytoplankton residues which have almost the theoretical Redfield value and; 4) the existence of the Yellow Sea Bottom Cold W ater which inhibits the vertical exchange of the water.