Study of horizontal and vertical distributions of the N/P (nitrogen versus phosphate) atom ratio in the northern South Yellow Sea showed that the ratio varied greatly in upper waters of the investigated area and was always much greater than the theoretical Redfield ratio of 16:1 found below the thermocline zone. It was in general higher near the coast and lower in the central part. With increasing depth, the ratio became smaller and smaller. This distribution pattern is attributed to: 1) the anthropogenic influence of the surface N and P which makes the N/P ratio differ from the normal value; 2) the easy adsorption of P on particles hinders P transport to the central part; 3) below the thermocline zone, the N and P mainly come from the remineralization of the sedimented phytoplankton residues which have almost the theoretical Redfield value and; 4) the existence of the Yellow Sea Bottom Cold Water which inhibits the vertical exchange of the water. Study of horizontal and vertical distributions of the N / P (nitrogen versus phosphate) atom ratio in the northern South Yellow Sea showed that the ratio varied greatly in upper waters of the investigated area and was always much greater than the theoretical Redfield ratio of 16: 1 found below the thermocline zone. It was in general higher near the coast and lower in the central part. With increasing depth, the ratio became smaller and smaller. This distribution pattern is attributed to: 1) the anthropogenic influence of the surface N and P which makes the N / P ratio differ from the normal value; 2) the easy adsorption of P on particles hinders P transport to the central part; 3) below the thermocline zone, the N and P mainly come from the remineralization of the sedimented phytoplankton residues which have almost the theoretical Redfield value; 4) the existence of the Yellow Sea Bottom Cold Water which inhibits the vertical exchange of the water.