Particulate phases are key in controlling dissolved iron concentrations in the (sub)tropical North Atlantic
Particulate phases are key in controlling dissolved iron concentrations in the (sub)tropical North Atlantic
The supply and bioavailability of iron (Fe) controls primary productivity and N2 fixation in large parts of the global ocean. An important, yet poorly quantified, source to the ocean is particulate Fe (pFe). Here we present the first combined dataset of particulate, labile-particulate (L-pFe), and dissolved Fe (dFe) from the (sub)tropical North Atlantic. We show a strong relationship between L-pFe and dFe, indicating a dynamic equilibrium between these two phases whereby particles “buffer” dFe and maintain the elevated concentrations observed. Moreover, L-pFe can increase the overall “available” (L-pFe + dFe) Fe pool by up to 55%. The lateral shelf flux of this available Fe was similar in magnitude to observed soluble aerosol-Fe deposition, a comparison that has not been previously considered. These findings demonstrate that L-pFe is integral to Fe cycling and hence plays a role in regulating carbon cycling, warranting its inclusion in Fe budgets and biogeochemical models.
2377–2387
Milne, Angela
39b44fbd-8f5e-40ea-80c9-244c20998020
Schlosser, Christian
93df4206-5ae4-48a3-80b9-d6f4fc2d4b0a
Wake, Bronwyn D.
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Achterberg, Eric P.
685ce961-8c45-4503-9f03-50f6561202b9
Chance, Rosie
131bdbe5-c918-45ac-a772-e6e1f2c09fc9
Baker, Alex R.
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Forryan, Alex
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Lohan, Maeve C.
6ca10597-2d0f-40e8-8e4f-7619dfac5088
16 March 2017
Milne, Angela
39b44fbd-8f5e-40ea-80c9-244c20998020
Schlosser, Christian
93df4206-5ae4-48a3-80b9-d6f4fc2d4b0a
Wake, Bronwyn D.
e1f2ad52-2274-4588-89d8-4e1ea0afa63f
Achterberg, Eric P.
685ce961-8c45-4503-9f03-50f6561202b9
Chance, Rosie
131bdbe5-c918-45ac-a772-e6e1f2c09fc9
Baker, Alex R.
583254ad-442b-44b1-80be-4a7f2c8b0ef2
Forryan, Alex
4e753ae9-7f12-495f-933a-2c5a1f554a0e
Lohan, Maeve C.
6ca10597-2d0f-40e8-8e4f-7619dfac5088
Milne, Angela, Schlosser, Christian, Wake, Bronwyn D., Achterberg, Eric P., Chance, Rosie, Baker, Alex R., Forryan, Alex and Lohan, Maeve C.
(2017)
Particulate phases are key in controlling dissolved iron concentrations in the (sub)tropical North Atlantic.
Geophysical Research Letters, 44 (5), .
(doi:10.1002/2016GL072314).
Abstract
The supply and bioavailability of iron (Fe) controls primary productivity and N2 fixation in large parts of the global ocean. An important, yet poorly quantified, source to the ocean is particulate Fe (pFe). Here we present the first combined dataset of particulate, labile-particulate (L-pFe), and dissolved Fe (dFe) from the (sub)tropical North Atlantic. We show a strong relationship between L-pFe and dFe, indicating a dynamic equilibrium between these two phases whereby particles “buffer” dFe and maintain the elevated concentrations observed. Moreover, L-pFe can increase the overall “available” (L-pFe + dFe) Fe pool by up to 55%. The lateral shelf flux of this available Fe was similar in magnitude to observed soluble aerosol-Fe deposition, a comparison that has not been previously considered. These findings demonstrate that L-pFe is integral to Fe cycling and hence plays a role in regulating carbon cycling, warranting its inclusion in Fe budgets and biogeochemical models.
Text
GRL Milne et. al. Revision_accepted
- Accepted Manuscript
More information
Accepted/In Press date: 15 February 2017
e-pub ahead of print date: 4 March 2017
Published date: 16 March 2017
Organisations:
Marine Biogeochemistry, Physical Oceanography
Identifiers
Local EPrints ID: 406651
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/406651
ISSN: 1944-8007
PURE UUID: 7ee8a083-cd09-4f6c-9bb7-8c3c387c3583
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Date deposited: 18 Mar 2017 02:27
Last modified: 16 Mar 2024 04:13
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Contributors
Author:
Angela Milne
Author:
Christian Schlosser
Author:
Bronwyn D. Wake
Author:
Rosie Chance
Author:
Alex R. Baker
Author:
Alex Forryan
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