Prolific nitrite reoxidation across the Eastern Tropical North Pacific Ocean

Abstract

AbstractNitrite is a key intermediate during fixed nitrogen loss in the ocean, and it accumulates within marine Oxygen Deficient Zones (ODZ). ODZs are vast subsurface regions where nitrate is the dominant electron acceptor, and these regions host approximately 50% of the fixed nitrogen loss in the world's oceans. Nitrite accumulates in these waters, and recent research has discovered substantial reoxidation of nitrite back to nitrate, a significant process in the global nitrogen cycle. Partitioning between reduction and oxidation determines if marine fixed nitrogen is lost or recycled. Investigations into nitrite oxidation typically rely on results from incubations, which limits the spatiotemporal sampling coverage. Using basin‐scale data, we analyzed the ratios of nutrient regeneration within the three water masses that feed the Eastern Tropical North Pacific (ETNP) ODZ. Deviations in the ratios of nutrient regeneration from Redfield stoichiometry indicated prolific nitrite reoxidation across this region. We estimate that 79 ± 7% of the nitrite produced in the ODZ between the 26.2 and 26.4 kg m−3 isopycnals is reoxidized, whereas 54 ± 2% of the nitrite produced between the 26.7 and 26.9 kg m−3 isopycnals is reoxidized. Our analysis also illustrates discrete “metabolic switching points” from primarily aerobic to primary anaerobic processes, which occur in each water mass. We applied water mass analysis to repeat cruises on the WOCE P18 line from Baja California to 10°N, which revealed high spatiotemporal variability in nitrite reoxidation. These results confirm previous measurements of significant fixed nitrogen recycling across the ETNP; however, our analysis enables high‐resolution estimates of this process.