Nitrate
Nitrogen is an essential element for plant growth in the ocean, and the dominant labile inorganic form is nitrate. Nutrients typically have higher concentrations in the deep ocean; concentrations near the surface are often very low due to uptake by phytoplankton during photosynthesis. The nitrate vertical gradient may be very dynamic, responding to both physical and biological processes. The OOI Nitrate sensors optically measure the amount of nitrate (NO3-) dissolved in seawater by examining its absorption of ultraviolet (UV) light. The Sea-Bird SUNA V2 (Submersible Ultraviolet Nitrate Analyzer) is a chemical-free UV nitrate sensor based on the ISUS (In Situ Ultraviolet Spectroscopy) UV nitrate measurement technology developed at MBARI. These optical sensors provide fast response measurements, allowing for the sensor to be deployed on profilers, gliders, and AUVs.
Data Products
This instrument measures the following data products. Select a data product's name to learn more.
| Data Product | Code | DPS |
|---|---|---|
| Nitrate Concentration | NITROPT |
The algorithm code used to generate data products for this instrument is also available in the ion-functions GitHub repository.
Instrument Models & Deployed Locations
The OOI includes the following instrument makes and models for this instrument type. Follow the links below to find out where in the OOI this instrument has been deployed. You'll also find quick links for each instrument to Data Explorer, where you can plot and access data.
| Class-Series | Make | Model |
|---|---|---|
| NUTNRA | Sea Bird | Deep SUNA |
| NUTNRB | Sea Bird | SUNA V2. (The NUNTR-B was initially an ISUS instrument. The ISUS was discontinued by the vendor and OOI switched to the SUNA V2 in 2019.) |
| NUTNRJ | Sea Bird | SUNA V2 |
| NUTNRM | Sea Bird | SUNA V2 |
| NUTNRN | Sea Bird | Deep SUNA |
Primary Science Discipline
Chemical