300180 VO Biogeochemistry of the ocean (2011S)

Biogeochemistry of the oceans is the study of biological, geological, physical and chemical processes that govern the distribution of chemical elements such as carbon, nitrogen and phosphorus in the ocean. The cycling of these chemical elements is mainly influenced by biological processes, however, biogeochemistry deals with large spatial and temporal scales. Thus it is generally easier to measure the concentrations of e.g. dissolved inorganic chemicals and to infer the biological processes in the ocean. The ocean's role in controlling the fate of anthropogenic CO2 added to the atmosphere is just one topic where the study of biogeochemistry led to major insights.