Nutrient dynamics and biological consumption in a large continental shelf system under the influence of both a river plume and coastal upwelling

Abstract

We examined the dynamics of dissolved inorganic nitrogen (DIN, nitrate + nitrite), dissolved inorganic phosphorus (DIP), and silicate (Si(OH)4) in the northern shelf of the South China Sea in summer, which is under a complex hydrodynamic scheme largely shaped by river plume and coastal upwelling, along with the enhanced biological consumption of nutrients therein. The Pearl River plume, with high nutrient concentrations (∼ 0.1–14.2 µmol L−1 for DIN, ∼ 0.02–0.10 µmol L−1 for DIP, and ∼ 0.2–18.9 µmol L−1 for Si(OH)4), occupied a large area of the middle shelf (salinity < 33.5). The nearshore area had high nutrient concentrations apparently sourced from subsurface nutrient‐replete waters through wind‐driven coastal upwelling. These nutrient levels were significantly elevated relative to those on the oligotrophic outer shelf where DIN, DIP, and Si(OH)4 concentrations dropped to < 0.1 µmol L−1, ∼ 0.02–0.03 µmol L−1, and ∼ 2.0 µmol L−1, respectively. A three end‐member mixing model was constructed based on potential temperature and salinity conservation to assess biological consumption of inorganic nutrients, which was denoted by Δ and defined by the deviation from conservative mixing. In the coastal upwelling zone and deep chlorophyll maximum layer, the nutrient uptake ratio ΔDIN : ΔDIP was 16.7, which is the classic Redfield ratio. In contrast, in the river plume the uptake ratio was 61.3 ± 8.7. We believed that an alternative non‐DIP source likely contributed to this higher DIN : DIP consumption ratio in the river plume regime. Meanwhile, Si(OH)4 showed predominant consumption in the river plume and a combination of regeneration and consumption along the path of the coastal upwelling current.