摘要
90年代,氮的储量在波罗的海北部有上升的趋势,这可以用脱氮作用变化来解释所观察到的在氮储量方面的某些波动情况。虽然脱氮作用是一个缺氧过程,但沉积物可以被适度氧化,所以通过脱氮作用除去氮还是一种比较有效的方法。人们注意到,1973～1999年27年的时间里,波罗的海北部SiO_4与DIN(DIN=NO_3+NH_4)的比率大大降低了。假如可溶性的硅能够限制浮游植物赤潮的话,那么由硅藻引发的赤潮就会消失而由鞭毛藻所取代,从而导致磷酸盐储存并且沉积下来。7年以后,以前曾经流入这里的高盐水已经随着时间的推移而消失并且缺氧现象已经扩散到周围很大的一片区域。在海底深处,磷的含量已开始增长并且脱氮能力正在减弱。因此,从长远观点看,如果能使氮和磷的含量减少到最低水平,那么将有可能帮助波罗的海摆脱因富营养化而造成的影响。
During the 1990s nitrogen reserves have shown rising trends in the northern Baltic Sea. Changes in denitrification explain some of the fluctuations observed in nitrogen reserves. Although denitrification is an anaerobic process, the most efficient removal of nitrogen by denitrification occurs where the sediment is moderately well oxidized. A dramatic decrease in the ratio of SiO4 to DIN (DIN = NO3+ NH4) in the northern Baltic proper during the period 1973-1999 was recorded. If dissolved silica limits phytoplankton spring bloom, diatom blooms fade and become replaced by flagellates leading to changes in summer phosphate reserves and sedimentation. Seven years have elapsed from the previous strong saltwater inflow and anoxia has spread over large areas. Deep bottom phosphorus levels have started to increase and denitrification capacity is weakening. Thus, all efforts to minimize N- and P-loading will, in the long run, help the Baltic Sea to re-cover from the unacceptable status of eutrophication.
