The local respiration or death rate of algae represents the net effect of three processes: the endogenous respiration of algae, the conversion of algal phosphorus to organic phosphorus, and the conversion of algal nitrogen to organic nitrogen. The user defines the local respiration rate of algae at 20C. The respiration rate is adjusted to the local water temperature using the relationship:
7:3.1.17
where is the local respiration rate of algae (day or hr), is the local algal respiration rate at 20C (day or hr), and is the average water temperature for the day or hour (C).