La Distribution Du Nitrite Dans Le Systeme Des Courants Equatoriaux De L'OCean Pacifique, A 170 E

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Abstract
The distribution of nitrite in the equatorial region of the Pacific Ocean, between 160°E and 180° shows the existence of two noteworthy zones of subsurface accumulation. The first one which is observed at the equator seems to be bound to the surface divergence; the second which is greater, is observed at 5°S and seems to correspond to a convergence. Between 4°S and 7°S the nitrite concentration at 120 m can exceed 2.5 mg-at/m3 and in a layer 50 m thick the concentration exceeds 1.0 mg-at/m3. At the depth of the accumulation there is a stability maximum reinforced by the presence of the core of the high salinity southern subtropical water. The nitrite accumulation is at the bottom of an homogeneous surface layer, warm, poor in nutrients and in chl a; where the nitrite appears the vertical gradient of oxygen and nitrate is at a maximum. The accumulation of nitrite at the equator, is on the contrary, associated with waters which are colder, richer in nutrients and containing 0.25 mg/m3 chl a. The comparison of the distribution at four different longitudes shows a relation between the convergence at the southern limit of the equatorial current and an accumulation of nitrite.

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