Understanding ocean production of an important greenhouse gas

Microbial processes in oxygen-deficient ocean zones produce large amounts of nitrous oxide, a potent greenhouse gas. Existing measurements and models suggest that the eastern tropical south Pacific Ocean is an important region for nitrous oxide flux, and may increase its output of the gas in the future as a result of global change, including ocean deoxygenation. To better predict the future trajectory of nitrous oxide emissions, this project will conduct experiments at sea to characterize the effects of oxygen manipulation on microbial nitrous oxide production rates and mechanisms.