Fig. 1: Schematic diagram of the NO3− photolytic process in Antarctica. | Nature Communications

Fig. 1: Schematic diagram of the NO3− photolytic process in Antarctica.

From: Sunlight-driven nitrate loss records Antarctic surface mass balance

Fig. 1: Schematic diagram of the NO3− photolytic process in Antarctica.The alternative text for this image may have been generated using AI.

After NO3− containing either 14N (blue) or 15N (red) is deposited on the Antarctic snowpack surface (1), sunlight in the photic zone can trigger photolysis of NO3− that favors NO3− with a 14N atom, which leaves the residual NO3− enriched in 15N (2). Because sites with lower surface mass balance will accumulate less snow over a given period of time than high surface mass balance sites (3), the NO3− at lower surface mass balance sites will remain in the photic zone longer, experience more photolytic mass loss before burial in the archived zone, and have higher δ15NNO3arc values (4).

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