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Oceanic fixed-nitrogen concentrations are controlled by the balance between nitrogen fixation and denitrification^,,,. A number of factors, including iron limitation^,,, can restrict nitrogen fixation, introducing the potential for decoupling of nitrogen inputs and losses^,,. Such decoupling could significantly affect the oceanic fixed-nitrogen inventory and consequently the biological component of ocean carbon storage and hence air–sea partitioning of carbon dioxide^,,,. However, the extent to which nutrients limit nitrogen fixation in the global ocean is uncertain. Here, we examined rates of nitrogen fixation and nutrient concentrations in the surface waters of the Atlantic Ocean along a north–south 10,000 km transect during October and November 2005. We show that rates of nitrogen fixation were markedly higher in the North Atlantic compared with the South Atlantic Ocean. Across the two basins, nitrogen fixation was …