Isotopic fractionation of dissolved ammonium at the oxygen‐hydrogen sulfide interface in anoxic waters

David J. Velinsky, Marilyn L. Fogel, James F. Todd, Bradley M. Tebo

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

32 Scopus citations

Abstract

The δ15N of dissolved ammonium was determined in three anoxic marine basins: Black Sea, Saanich Inlet, B.C., Canada, and Framvaren Fjord, Norway. In each basin, the δ15N‐NH4+ was greatest near the 02/H2S interface, with δ15N as high as +21‰. The depth distributions of NH4+ and δ15N‐NH4+ for Black Sea and Framvaren Fjord were examined with a one‐dimensional, steady‐state, vertical advection‐diffusion model to calculate the isotope fractionation during the consumption of NH4+ by bacteria. Isotope enrichments, ϵ, for Black Sea were between 5 and 15 ‰, whereas in Framvaren Fjord ϵ ranged from 20 to 30 ‰. These differences are related mainly to the ambient concentration of NH4+. Biosynthetic uptake of NH4+ rather than nitrification was responsible for the fractionation. The δ15N‐NH4+ in Saanich Inlet appears related to in‐situ regeneration of NH4+ with little isotopic fractionation between dissolved and particulate nitrogen (PN).

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)649-652
Number of pages4
JournalGeophysical Research Letters
Volume18
Issue number4
DOIs
StatePublished - Apr 1991
Externally publishedYes

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Geophysics
  • General Earth and Planetary Sciences

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