Biogeochemistry-Atmosphere Processes in the Bay of Bengal: A contribution to the International Indian Ocean Expedition 2
ACRONYM
BIOCAT-N (IIOE-2)
Title
Biogeochemistry-Atmosphere Processes in the Bay of Bengal: A contribution to the International Indian Ocean Expedition 2
General information
TP2: The Nitrogen Cycle – Isotopes (SO 305)
The Bay of Bengal as one of the northern basins of the Indian Ocean is an oceanic region with an enhanced oxygen minimum zone (OMZ) in intermediate water masses and oxygen concentrations very close to anoxic conditions. The anthropogenic increase of the input of nutrients and trace substances could lead to a further increase of oxygen consumption. Oxygen concentrations could fall below the threshold value of denitrification so that the Bay of Bengal could become an additional oceanic nitrogen sink. On the cruise of R/V SONNE 305 the major element cycles, the oxygen concentrations and the anthropogenic supply of dissolved and particulate matter will be studied. Within this project we will investigate (i) the nitrogen sources and cycling processes using rate measurements of nitrification, nitrogen uptake, N2O production and denitrification, stable isotopic ratios of dissolved reactive and particulate nitrogen, (ii) the sources and quality of particulate organic matter using amino acids. The results will contribute to a better understanding of the origin and fate of the OMZ. The project is a German contribution to the 2nd International Indian Ocean Expedition (IIOE-2).
Start
December, 2023
End
May, 2026
Funding (total)
-
Funding (GEOMAR)
532000
Funding body / Programme
-
BMBF
/ Bundesministerium für Bildung und Forschung
Coordination
Helmholtz-Zentrum für Ozeanforschung Kiel (GEOMAR), Germany
Contact
Partners
Universität Hamburg, Institut für Geologie
