Variability in fluxes of nutrients (N, P, Si) into the North Sea from the Atlantic Ocean and skagerrak caused by variability in water flow

Fluxes of nutrients (dissolved phosphate, nitrate and silicate) from the Atlantic Ocean (Northern Atlantic and Channel) and Skagerrak to the North Sea were calculated for the upper 30 meters and for the total water depths. Monthly average water flows and their standard deviations were taken from the model calculations of the If M (HAMSOM model) and IMR (NORWECOM model) for the period 1955–1993 and 1976–1995, respectively. Climatological monthly mean nutrient data were collected for the same transects from the NOWESP Research Data Base, and extracted from additional literature. With the water flow from the models and the available nutrient data rather precise fluxes can be calculated. The aim is to compare these fluxes with those published in the literature which are often based on yearly averaged water flow and some nutrient concentrations.