Science. 1977 Nov 11;198(4317):605-9. doi: 10.1126/science.198.4317.605.
Pore-water nitrate concentrations in six pelagic eastern equatorial Atlantic cores increase from bottom water values (22 micromolar) to 40 micromolar at a depth of about 5 centimeters, then decrease to undetectable levels at depths as shallow as 40 centimeters. These nitrate concentrations and concentration gradients reflect zones of oxygen reduction, nitrate reduction, and sulfate reduction in the sediments. The estimated benthic flux of nitrate to the ocean from our data is much less than the total globalflux of nitrate to deep waters, even though these equatorial sediments underlie a productive upwelling zone. The estimated denitrification rate in our study area suggests that pelagic sediments may be important sites of marine denitrification.
六份东赤道大西洋浮游岩芯的孔隙水中硝酸盐浓度从底层水值（22 微摩尔）增加到 5 厘米深处的 40 微摩尔，然后在 40 厘米深的地方降至无法检测的水平。这些硝酸盐浓度和浓度梯度反映了沉积物中氧还原、硝酸盐还原和硫酸盐还原带。根据我们的数据，从海底向海洋输送的硝酸盐通量估计比硝酸盐向深层水的总全球通量要小得多，尽管这些赤道沉积物位于生产力上升区之下。我们研究区域的估计反硝化速率表明，浮游沉积物可能是海洋反硝化的重要场所。
