The temperature correction of oceanic inorganic phosphorus analyses

Abstract

The colour intensity of the molybdate-blue complex in the analysis for inorganic phosphorus in sea-water increases 1·25 per cent per degree centigrade. The apparent phosphorus content of sea-water samples analysed in tropical regions may be erroneously high unless temperature is controlled or corrections are made. The effect of temperature correction on the agreement between total and inorganic phosphorus contents of Atlantic Ocean water is described. It is recommended that temperature corrections be included in future publications of data on the distributions of inorganic phosphorus.