Biogeochemistry

The biogeochemistry laboratory in the Oceanography department at UCT performs routine hydrographic measurements such as nutrient concentrations (NO3, NO2, NH4, SiO4, PO4, urea), dissolved oxygen, chlorophyll and pH. An automated system (flow injection auto-analyser) is available for NO3 and SiO4 analyses while PO4 and NH4 is determined spectrophotometrically. In collaboration with the Marine Biogeochemistry Laboratory, nutrient cycling experiments are performed to look at primary production, nutrient uptake and nutrient regeneration. These experiments are performed using both stable isotopes (15N, 13C) and radioactive isotopes (14C, 55Fe) in a custom certified radioisotope laboratory container.

  • Filter stand used to filter seawater samples during nutrient cycling experiments.
  • Incubators are used to replicate light levels from various depths and maintain a controlled temperature in order to estimate primary productivity and nitrogen cycling rates.
  • Incubators which have been set up on the SA Agulhas II during a research cruise in the Southern Ocean.
Related News and Publications

The biogeochemistry laboratory in the Oceanography department at UCT performs routine hydrographic measurements such as nutrient concentrations (NO3, NO2, NH4, SiO4, PO4, urea), dissolved oxygen, chlorophyll and pH. An automated system (flow injection auto-analyser) is available for NO3 and SiO4 analyses while PO4 and NH4 is determined spectrophotometrically. In collaboration with the Marine Biogeochemistry Laboratory, nutrient cycling experiments are performed to look at primary production, nutrient uptake and nutrient regeneration. These experiments are performed using both stable isotopes (15N, 13C) and radioactive isotopes (14C, 55Fe) in a custom certified radioisotope laboratory container.