Observatory in the Wadden Sea: Nutrient cycling and export to the North Sea

In the southern North Sea, an observatory is permanently installed in the tidal flat area of Spiekeroog Island. The observatory permits continuous nutrient (silica, phosphate, nitrate, nitrite) measurements in the open water column. Nutrients vary on tidal and seasonal time scales depending on phytoplankton dynamics and nutrient recycling in tidal flat sediments. Model results indicate that dissolved nutrients are exported from the tidal flat system to coastal waters of the North Sea. Thus, nutrient cycling in tidal flat areas may influence nutrient and phytoplankton dynamics in coastal waters of the southern North Sea.