Nutrient Distributions in the Canadian Archipelago: Indicators of Summer Water Mass and Flow Characteristics

• Published in: Canadian Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
• Main Authors: Jones, E. P., Coote, A. R.
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Canadian Science Publishing 1980
• Subjects: Aquatic Science; Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics; Arctic; Arctic Ocean; Canadian Archipelago; Lancaster Sound; Smith sound
• Online Access: http://dx.doi.org/10.1139/f80-075; http://www.nrcresearchpress.com/doi/pdf/10.1139/f80-075

Concentrations of the nutrients, phosphate, nitrate, and silicate, were measured at several locations in Lancaster Sound, Jones Sound, and Smith Sound. Arctic Ocean surface layer water flowing out through Lancaster Sound and Jones Sound have higher phosphate and silicate concentrations than that flowing out through Smith Sound. Phosphate and silicate concentrations can be useful to indicate flow patterns within some regions of the Canadian Archipelago and to delineate partially the gyre in the Canadian Basin of the Arctic Ocean.Key words: nutrients: phosphate, nitrate, silicate; distribution: Arctic, Canadian Archipelago; water mass, identification, mixing