Nitrogen and phosphorus in surface microlayers of an estuarine, shallow lake [North Poland]

Higher nutrients concentrations were observed into the surface microlayer then in the subsurface of estuarine, shallow lake water. The thinner the surface microlayer, which means the closer it is to the water-atmosphere contact zone, the higher are concentrations of organic and inorganic phosphorus, as well as organic and ammonia nitrogen. Mean values of enrichment coefficients were usually positive. The highest values of these coefficients were found for organic phosphorus and organic nitrogen in relation to phosphates, ammonium nitrogen and nitrate nitrogen.