Rapid nitrous oxide cycling in the suboxic ocean

Andrew R. Babbin, Daniele Bianchi, Amal Jayakumar, Bettie Ward

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

140 Scopus citations

Abstract

Nitrous oxide (N2O) is a powerful greenhouse gas and a major cause of stratospheric ozone depletion, yet its sources and sinks remain poorly quantified in the oceans. We used isotope tracers to directly measure N2O reduction rates in the eastern tropical North Pacific. Because of incomplete denitrification, N2O cycling rates are an order of magnitude higher than predicted by current models in suboxic regions, and the spatial distribution suggests strong dependence on both organic carbon and dissolved oxygen concentrations. Furthermore, N2O turnover is 20 times higher than the net atmospheric efflux. The rapid rate of this cycling coupled to an expected expansion of suboxic ocean waters implies future increases in N2O emissions.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)1127-1129
Number of pages3
JournalScience
Volume348
Issue number6239
DOIs
StatePublished - Jun 5 2015

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

  • General

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