| Utilizing all the available data, the distribution of nitrite at the secondary nitrite maximum is studied to delineate the boundaries of the denitrification zone and to understand some of the processes that control the extent of denitrification in the Arabian Sea. Nitrite distribution shows little correspondence with primary productivity, and the three major sites of seasonal upwelling appear to be located outside the zone of intense denitrification. This distinguishes the Arabian Sea from the other two major oceanic denitrification sites, located in the Pacific Ocean. The relationship between nitrite and nitrate deficit suggests that the distribution of the former effectively reflects the extent of denitrification. The locus of the most intense... |
