Redfield Ratio

The Redfield Ratio describes a consistent proportion of key nutrients in seawater, specifically that there are about 106 atoms of carbon to 16 of nitrogen and 1 of phosphorus in marine phytoplankton. This ratio reflects how these nutrients are balanced during biological processes, helping scientists understand ocean productivity and nutrient cycling. Essentially, it shows a typical ratio of these elements needed for marine life growth, providing insight into the nutrient availability and how it influences the health of marine ecosystems.