Nutricline (Biogeochemical Feature)

Component: Biogeochemical Feature

Unique Identifier: 1345

Biogeochemical Feature

Nutricline

Description

Definition

The zone of rapid nutrient change with depth in the water column, often as a result of entrainment of water from a lower depth that is higher in concentration of a particular nutrient. The nutricline can be a rich source of a limiting nutrient and hence, the site of intense microbial or photosynthetic activity.