Redfield behavior of carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorus depletions in Antarctic surface water

Inspired by the recent debate about anomalous nutrient utilization ratios i n the surface oceans, we calculated depletions of total carbon dioxide, nit rate, and phosphate for the surface layer of the western Weddell Sea in sum mer. The depletion ratios, which incorporate all changes over a period of a bout 3 months starting from the onset of the vegetative season, essentially follow the classical Redfield model. We argue that reliable Redfield ratio s can only be obtained when the time interval over which the nutrient utili zation ratios are determined is comparable to the length of the vegetative season. Nutrient depletions are perfectly suitable to obtain reliable nutri ent consumption ratios. We have good reason to believe that in the surface waters of the Antarctic, as they are nun-lent replete, the nutrient consump tion ratios comply with the classical Redfield values.