Net community production (NCP) - O₂/Ar
| Oxygen production |
|---|
| Approach: tracer quantification |
| Context: in situ |
| Spatial scale: meters2 |
| Temporal scale: days |
| Units: mmol O2 m-2 day-1 |
| Community captured: all |
| Co-measurements: temperature, salinity, wind speed history |
Method overview
O₂/Ar compares the gas concentrations of oxygen and argon to determine the net community production (NCP) (a.k.a. net ecosystem production (NEP)) of oxygen within the depths of interest. This measurement relies on argon being biologically inert, but physically nearly identical to oxygen, such that any deviations from the standard ratio of O₂/Ar are due to biological activity.
Scale of measurement
Data generated
Limitations
Requires the assumption of steady-state dynamics, and that physical transport does not influence mixed layer O₂ dynamics.