<p>The chemical reactions responsible for the decomposition of biological organisms after they die releases soluble nitrogen compounds and consumes oxygen.</p>

<p>Decomposing organic matter tends to sink. Although it may be recycled several times, eventually is sinks out of the photic zone. Decomposition consumes oxygen and releases nitrogen into the relatively closed deep water mass making it relatively oxygen-poor and nitrogen-rich.    </p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-09-09T18:06:32.547Z
2014-09-09T18:06:32.547Z
Mark Rovetta
<p>Because the bacteria that converts the waste (ammonia) to nitrates consumes oxygen. So its more a matter of oxygen depletion rather than an initial lack of oxygen. </p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-09-10T04:12:24.050Z
2014-09-10T04:12:24.050Z
ChrisR
<p>In general the relationship between dissolved oxygen and nitrate is complex. While in areas of water mass formation, especially in the Arctic and Antarctic Oceans, nutrient concentration and dissolved oxygen can be high, water mass evolution and biological activity can rapidly modified these concentration. The relationship is affected by several factors including: 1) the age of the water mass: the "older" the water mass (longer time since in equilibrium with atmospheric oxygen), the lower the dissolved oxygen concentration; and 2) the proximity to primary productive areas like the surface: the higher the primary production, the lower the nitrate concentration.</p>

<p>In some parts of the interior of the Atlantic Ocean, the water masses present (North Atlantic Deep Water, Antarctic Bottom Water) are pretty old and haven't been in contact with the surface layers for a while, so their oxygen concentration is high while they remain nutrient rich. The water masses in the surface layers have recently been in contact with the atmosphere and thus have a high oxygen concentration. Meanwhile, by being near the surface they are subject to primary production that tends to rapidly consume the nutrients (like nitrate). The relationship is highly variable spatially specially near the coastal regions, where processes like upwelling/downwelling can rapidly modified nutrient and oxygen concentrations.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-09-09T13:32:26.180Z
2014-09-09T13:32:26.180Z
arkaia
<p>I was looking at a depth profile of a segment of the Atlantic Ocean. What is the relationship between dissolved oxygen and nitrate? When nitrate is high, dissolved oxygen is low and vice versa. I've been trying to work out why this is, but I'm drawing a blank.</p>

<oceanography><geochemistry>
Looking at ocean depth/latitude profiles of dissolved oxygen and nitrate. Why is dissolved oxygen low when nitrate is high?
pocketlizard
# Looking at ocean depth/latitude profiles of dissolved oxygen and nitrate. Why is dissolved oxygen low when nitrate is high?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2014-09-08)

I was looking at a depth profile of a segment of the Atlantic Ocean. What is the relationship between dissolved oxygen and nitrate? When nitrate is high, dissolved oxygen is low and vice versa. I've been trying to work out why this is, but I'm drawing a blank.

**Tags:** oceanography, geochemistry


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## 3 answers

### Answer by username_3 on 2014-09-09. Score: 9 | Accepted answer

In general the relationship between dissolved oxygen and nitrate is complex. While in areas of water mass formation, especially in the Arctic and Antarctic Oceans, nutrient concentration and dissolved oxygen can be high, water mass evolution and biological activity can rapidly modified these concentration. The relationship is affected by several factors including: 1) the age of the water mass: the "older" the water mass (longer time since in equilibrium with atmospheric oxygen), the lower the dissolved oxygen concentration; and 2) the proximity to primary productive areas like the surface: the higher the primary production, the lower the nitrate concentration.

In some parts of the interior of the Atlantic Ocean, the water masses present (North Atlantic Deep Water, Antarctic Bottom Water) are pretty old and haven't been in contact with the surface layers for a while, so their oxygen concentration is high while they remain nutrient rich. The water masses in the surface layers have recently been in contact with the atmosphere and thus have a high oxygen concentration. Meanwhile, by being near the surface they are subject to primary production that tends to rapidly consume the nutrients (like nitrate). The relationship is highly variable spatially specially near the coastal regions, where processes like upwelling/downwelling can rapidly modified nutrient and oxygen concentrations.


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### Answer by username_1 on 2014-09-09. Score: 7

The chemical reactions responsible for the decomposition of biological organisms after they die releases soluble nitrogen compounds and consumes oxygen.

Decomposing organic matter tends to sink. Although it may be recycled several times, eventually is sinks out of the photic zone. Decomposition consumes oxygen and releases nitrogen into the relatively closed deep water mass making it relatively oxygen-poor and nitrogen-rich.


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### Answer by username_2 on 2014-09-10. Score: 6

Because the bacteria that converts the waste (ammonia) to nitrates consumes oxygen. So its more a matter of oxygen depletion rather than an initial lack of oxygen.


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