Biochemical modeling in coastal waters of the Middle Atlantic States1

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Abstract
Biochemical dynamics in coastal waters off the U.S. Middle Atlantic States are examined by applying the Redfield model of nutrient regeneration and apparent oxygen utilization. The modeling takes advantage of the comparatively uniform spatial conditions of the seasonally stratified central shelf region and follows temporal changes in the isolated bottom waters on an integrated mesoscale. A seasonally averaged rate of bottom water nutrient regeneration of 0.0044 µmol P· −1·d−1 results and this permits estimation of a nitrogen flux across the thermocline equivalent to 0.02 µmol N·liter−1·d−1. This nitrogen flux and an extrapolated surface water nutrient regeneration could supply at least one‐third and maybe close to two‐thirds of the total nitrogen requirement for the phytoplankton productivity during summer in these coastal waters.

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