Articles | Volume 18, issue 19
https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-18-5327-2021
© Author(s) 2021. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-18-5327-2021
© Author(s) 2021. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
Riverine nitrogen supply to the global ocean and its limited impact on global marine primary production: a feedback study using an Earth system model
Miriam Tivig
CORRESPONDING AUTHOR
Biogeochemical Modelling, GEOMAR Helmholtz-Zentrum für Ozeanforschung Kiel, Düsternbrooker Weg 20, 24105 Kiel, Germany
Abteilung Klima und Umwelt, Deutscher Wetterdienst, Güterfelder Damm 87–91, 14532 Stahnsdorf, Germany
David P. Keller
Biogeochemical Modelling, GEOMAR Helmholtz-Zentrum für Ozeanforschung Kiel, Düsternbrooker Weg 20, 24105 Kiel, Germany
Andreas Oschlies
Biogeochemical Modelling, GEOMAR Helmholtz-Zentrum für Ozeanforschung Kiel, Düsternbrooker Weg 20, 24105 Kiel, Germany
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Cited
16 citations as recorded by crossref.
- Land-ocean export of microplastic in central Chile: The contribution of the Biobío River using a particle tracking model approach T. Recabarren et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envpol.2025.126196
- Spatiotemporal dynamics and driving mechanisms of phytoplankton bloom phenology in the Southern Yellow Sea Y. Zhang et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jmarsys.2026.104212
- The importance of global synchronous observation for estimating oceanic chlorophyll-a J. Chen et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecolind.2024.112299
- Riverine nutrient impact on global ocean nitrogen cycle feedbacks and marine primary production in an Earth system model M. Tivig et al. https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-21-4469-2024
- Ecosystem and Climate Change Impacts on the Nitrogen Cycle and Biodiversity R. Mattoo et al. https://doi.org/10.3390/nitrogen6030078
- Riverine impact on future projections of marine primary production and carbon uptake S. Gao et al. https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-20-93-2023
- Impacts of decadal increasing nitrogen deposition on North Pacific marine ecosystems Y. Meng et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvman.2025.124844
- Coupled dynamics of submarine groundwater discharge and coastal productivity: Insights from tidal to interannual variability N. Mundankuzhi et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pce.2026.104351
- The response of the ocean carbon cycle to artificial upwelling, ocean iron fertilization and the combination of both M. Jürchott et al. https://doi.org/10.1088/1748-9326/ad858d
- Spatial and historic changes of nutrients across the changjiang river and associated major tributaries Q. Lin et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.watres.2025.125140
- Challenges and opportunities in scaling enhanced weathering for carbon dioxide removal D. Beerling et al. https://doi.org/10.1038/s43017-025-00713-7
- Implementing riverine biogeochemical inputs in ECCO-Darwin: a sensitivity analysis of terrestrial fluxes in a data-assimilative global ocean biogeochemistry model R. Savelli et al. https://doi.org/10.5194/gmd-19-867-2026
- Fisheries disrupt marine nutrient cycles through biomass extraction A. González Ortiz et al. https://doi.org/10.1038/s43247-025-02218-z
- The 80:20 estimate of land vs. ocean sources of marine pollution: fit for purpose? A. Hudson et al. https://doi.org/10.3389/fmars.2025.1587805
- Satellite‐Observed Interannual Variations in Sea Surface Chlorophyll‐a Concentration in the Yellow Sea Over the Past Two Decades F. Zhai et al. https://doi.org/10.1029/2022JC019528
- Multi-dimensional feasibility assessment of macroalgal carbon for China's carbon neutrality L. Yue et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.eiar.2026.108578
16 citations as recorded by crossref.
- Land-ocean export of microplastic in central Chile: The contribution of the Biobío River using a particle tracking model approach T. Recabarren et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envpol.2025.126196
- Spatiotemporal dynamics and driving mechanisms of phytoplankton bloom phenology in the Southern Yellow Sea Y. Zhang et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jmarsys.2026.104212
- The importance of global synchronous observation for estimating oceanic chlorophyll-a J. Chen et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecolind.2024.112299
- Riverine nutrient impact on global ocean nitrogen cycle feedbacks and marine primary production in an Earth system model M. Tivig et al. https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-21-4469-2024
- Ecosystem and Climate Change Impacts on the Nitrogen Cycle and Biodiversity R. Mattoo et al. https://doi.org/10.3390/nitrogen6030078
- Riverine impact on future projections of marine primary production and carbon uptake S. Gao et al. https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-20-93-2023
- Impacts of decadal increasing nitrogen deposition on North Pacific marine ecosystems Y. Meng et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvman.2025.124844
- Coupled dynamics of submarine groundwater discharge and coastal productivity: Insights from tidal to interannual variability N. Mundankuzhi et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pce.2026.104351
- The response of the ocean carbon cycle to artificial upwelling, ocean iron fertilization and the combination of both M. Jürchott et al. https://doi.org/10.1088/1748-9326/ad858d
- Spatial and historic changes of nutrients across the changjiang river and associated major tributaries Q. Lin et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.watres.2025.125140
- Challenges and opportunities in scaling enhanced weathering for carbon dioxide removal D. Beerling et al. https://doi.org/10.1038/s43017-025-00713-7
- Implementing riverine biogeochemical inputs in ECCO-Darwin: a sensitivity analysis of terrestrial fluxes in a data-assimilative global ocean biogeochemistry model R. Savelli et al. https://doi.org/10.5194/gmd-19-867-2026
- Fisheries disrupt marine nutrient cycles through biomass extraction A. González Ortiz et al. https://doi.org/10.1038/s43247-025-02218-z
- The 80:20 estimate of land vs. ocean sources of marine pollution: fit for purpose? A. Hudson et al. https://doi.org/10.3389/fmars.2025.1587805
- Satellite‐Observed Interannual Variations in Sea Surface Chlorophyll‐a Concentration in the Yellow Sea Over the Past Two Decades F. Zhai et al. https://doi.org/10.1029/2022JC019528
- Multi-dimensional feasibility assessment of macroalgal carbon for China's carbon neutrality L. Yue et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.eiar.2026.108578
Saved (final revised paper)
Latest update: 14 Jul 2026
Short summary
Nitrogen is one of the most important elements for life in the ocean. A major source is the riverine discharge of dissolved nitrogen. While global models often omit rivers as a nutrient source, we included nitrogen from rivers in our Earth system model and found that additional nitrogen affected marine biology not only locally but also in regions far off the coast. Depending on regional conditions, primary production was enhanced or even decreased due to internal feedbacks in the nitrogen cycle.
Nitrogen is one of the most important elements for life in the ocean. A major source is the...
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