Articles | Volume 22, issue 10
https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-22-2461-2025
© Author(s) 2025. 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-22-2461-2025
© Author(s) 2025. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
Research article
| 
28 May 2025
Research article |
| 28 May 2025
| 28 May 2025
Relationships between the concentration of particulate organic nitrogen and the inherent optical properties of seawater in oceanic surface waters
Alain Fumenia
CORRESPONDING AUTHOR
Laboratoire d'Océanologie et de Géosciences, Université du Littoral Côte d'Opale, Université Lille, CNRS, IRD, UMR 8187, LOG, Wimereux, France
Hubert Loisel
Laboratoire d'Océanologie et de Géosciences, Université du Littoral Côte d'Opale, Université Lille, CNRS, IRD, UMR 8187, LOG, Wimereux, France
Rick A. Reynolds
Marine Physical Laboratory, Scripps Institution of Oceanography, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, California 92093-0238, USA
Dariusz Stramski
Marine Physical Laboratory, Scripps Institution of Oceanography, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, California 92093-0238, USA
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This study assesses marine biological production in two Mediterranean systems representative of vast desert-like (oligotrophic) areas encountered in the global ocean. We use a novel approach based on non-intrusive high-frequency in situ measurements by two profiling robots, the BioGeoChemical-Argo (BGC-Argo) floats. Our results indicate substantial yet variable production rates and contribution to the whole water column of the subsurface layer, typically considered steady and non-productive.
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Short summary
Particulate organic nitrogen (PON) plays a central role in ocean biogeochemistry, yet limited in situ data hinder a full understanding of PON variability and associated processes. Measurements of optical properties offer an alternative for assessing PON across diverse marine environments. Our analysis reveals strong relationships between PON and optical properties, supporting a promising means to assess PON from optical measurements performed in situ or conducted from remote-sensing platforms.
Particulate organic nitrogen (PON) plays a central role in ocean biogeochemistry, yet limited in...
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