Anthropogenically-Derived Atmospheric Nitrogen Deposition, Marine Eutrophication and Harmful Algal Bloom Expansion: Is There a Link?
Paerl HW and Whitall DR. 1999. Anthropogenically-Derived Atmospheric Nitrogen Deposition, Marine Eutrophication and Harmful Algal Bloom Expansion: Is There a Link?. Ambio. 28(4):307-311
Atmospheric deposition of nitrogen (AD-N) to the North Atlantic Ocean (NAO) basin arises from pollution sources in North America and Western Europe; these sources have increased drastically (5-10-fold) since the Industrial Revolution and continue to increase in both geographic and depositional magnitude. Based on the estimates in this study, AD-N flux (11.2 Tg N yr-1) accounts for 46-57% of the total "new" or anthropogenic nitrogen flux to the NAO. The ecological impacts of this N flux have been linked to eutrophication, which may be manifested most noticeably as harmful (toxic, hypoxia-inducing, food web-altering) algal blooms (HABs). Here, we examine the potential conceptual link between "new" N loading from AD-N to apparent increases in HAB frequency documented for the North Atlantic and other AD-N impacted marine ecosystems.
- Type
- Journal Article
- Authors
- Paerl, Hans; Whitall, David
- Units
- ARD
- Keywords
- AIRBIB, algal bloom, Atmospheric Deposition, Marine Ecosystems, marine eutrophication, Nitrogen Deposition, Pollution