Enrichment of amino acids in the sea surface microlayer at coastal and open ocean sites in the North Atlantic Ocean

• DOI: 10.4319/lo.2004.49.5.1605
• Publication Date: 2010-07-01T22:15:08Z
• Authors: Marina Kuznetsova; Cindy Lee; Josephine Aller; Nelson Frew
• Keywords: Subsurface Flow

We investigated how regional differences in environmental parameters influenced enrichment of amino acids the sea surface microlayer relative to underlying bulk seawater. Concentrations and compositions dissolved free (DFAA), combined (DCAA), particulate (PAA) were measured corresponding subsurface waters along a transect from coastal Massachusetts open ocean Sargasso Sea. also total bacteria concentrations, percent with damaged membranes, concentrations virus‐like particles. Microlayer samples taken by two different techniques—screen sampler (thickness 200–400 µm) rotating drum 30–60 µm)—were compared. On average, both water higher masses fluorescence, lower temperature salinity, historically chlorophyll. The was enriched and, most instances, Consistent features such as nonuniform preferential DFAA PAA uniform difference acid compositio between water, unrelated measured. Wind, humidity, light had no apparent effects on concentration, composition, or this study.