Articles | Volume 22, issue 23
https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-22-7915-2025
https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-22-7915-2025
Research article
 | 
10 Dec 2025
Research article |  | 10 Dec 2025

Coastal nitrogen drives respiration quotient in the Southern California Bight

Allison R. Moreno, Adam J. Fagan, and Adam C. Martiny

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Cited articles

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Short summary
Phytoplankton stimulate oxygen production in the surface ocean whereas bacteria will utilize that oxygen. We measure the first coastal r-O2:C - oxygen needed to oxidize carbon over a 5 yr period in Southern California to determine the controlling factors in this highly dynamic region. We found that seasonality and blooming conditions have a strong impact on this ratio. We also found that a major local oil spill affected r-O2:C, demonstrating that coastal waters are impacted by climate.
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