Phytoplankton productivity is an order of mag- 

 nitude greater on continental margins than in the open 

 ocean (table 1). The DOE program findings assist in 

 determining how much and when carbon is taken up 

 over the shelf areas during phytoplankton production. 

 Where does the carbon go: is it respired or eaten, or is 

 it removed through burial or transport into the open 

 ocean? The program helps identify the role of or- 

 ganisms in the dynamics of CO2 cycling into and out of 

 the ocean. 



Nitrogen cycling is also a significant concern. 

 Nitrogen oxides are important in the chemistry of 

 ozone formation and dissipation in the atmosphere, 

 and nitrogen from the ocean may contribute to these 

 processes. Other forms of nitrogen serve as a valuable 

 nutrient for phytoplankton and bacterial growth. 

 Much of this nitrogen comes from deep water upwell- 

 ing, but closer to shore, it may come from agricultural 

 runoff. Nitrogen flux from coastal ocean margins can 



be quantitatively determined for U.S. coastal areas by 

 the three regional programs, and it is possible to ex- 

 trapolate the information through comparison with 

 other continental shelves. 



Although this marine program is only a small 

 part of DOE's total contribution in comprehending 

 global systems, it does provide crucial input for a basic 

 understanding of the role of carbon, nitrogen, phos- 

 phorus, and other elements in oceanographic systems. 

 Without this information, atmospheric CO2 buildup 

 and the greenhouse effect cannot be deciphered. The 

 program also provides data on contaminant dispersion 

 along the U.S. continental shelves and into the open 

 ocean. Thus, as new issues surface, this program — be- 

 cause of its focus on fundamental processes — is most 

 effective for providing a scientific base for issue 

 evaluation. 



Coastal Ocean Margins Program 



December 1988 



