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Anti-Atlas Moroccan Chain as the source of lithogenic-derived micronutrient fluxes to the deep Northeast Atlantic Ocean

Anti-Atlas Moroccan Chain as the source of lithogenic-derived micronutrient fluxes to the deep Northeast Atlantic Ocean
Anti-Atlas Moroccan Chain as the source of lithogenic-derived micronutrient fluxes to the deep Northeast Atlantic Ocean
Identifying the source of atmospheric dust is crucial to better understand the global marine biogeochemical cycle as phytoplankton growth relies on dissolved micronutrient elements available in the open ocean. Mineralogical, geochemical and Sr isotope analyses of a one year-time series (April 2003–April 2004) of deep ocean particle flux at the Madeira Abyssal Plain in the subtropical northeast Atlantic are presented. The lithogenic fraction has a high occurrence of palygorskite and smectite and an absence of kaolinite together with Sr isotopic compositions similar to the Northeast Atlantic aerosols. This indicates the Anti-Atlas Moroccan chain of Paleozoïc age as the source region. The lithogenic fraction supplies 4 times more Fe during a dust event than during the spring-summer aeolian input. A continuous input of only 1% of the lithogenic iron made available over a year period, could lead to an increase in primary productivity of 40% relative to today's value.
Saharan dust, geochemistry, micronutrient
0094-8276
L21604
Chavagnac, V.
0824a679-684f-47ba-8ccd-f8d36cc18d90
Waniek, J.J.
749b55a4-c736-4961-a522-37645dd73b45
Atkin, D.
1ac35c24-42bf-4b5e-b89a-8e7bebec477a
Milton, J.A.
9e183221-d0d4-4ddb-aeba-0fdde9d31230
Leipe, T.
bc2ea2d9-a553-4b27-8561-2c9f53d14bb2
Green, D.R.H.
0d7d86c4-d674-4514-8aa6-259134dc7b57
Bahlo, R.
245dbb7e-5e83-45e7-8606-47f086f28261
Hayes, T.E.F.
6ae4a438-3e78-4329-b509-b72b58edca51
Schulz-Bull, D.E.
18c86d5d-e496-4bf7-b820-36620d6ac002
Chavagnac, V.
0824a679-684f-47ba-8ccd-f8d36cc18d90
Waniek, J.J.
749b55a4-c736-4961-a522-37645dd73b45
Atkin, D.
1ac35c24-42bf-4b5e-b89a-8e7bebec477a
Milton, J.A.
9e183221-d0d4-4ddb-aeba-0fdde9d31230
Leipe, T.
bc2ea2d9-a553-4b27-8561-2c9f53d14bb2
Green, D.R.H.
0d7d86c4-d674-4514-8aa6-259134dc7b57
Bahlo, R.
245dbb7e-5e83-45e7-8606-47f086f28261
Hayes, T.E.F.
6ae4a438-3e78-4329-b509-b72b58edca51
Schulz-Bull, D.E.
18c86d5d-e496-4bf7-b820-36620d6ac002

Chavagnac, V., Waniek, J.J., Atkin, D., Milton, J.A., Leipe, T., Green, D.R.H., Bahlo, R., Hayes, T.E.F. and Schulz-Bull, D.E. (2007) Anti-Atlas Moroccan Chain as the source of lithogenic-derived micronutrient fluxes to the deep Northeast Atlantic Ocean. Geophysical Research Letters, 34 (21), L21604. (doi:10.1029/2007GL030985).

Record type: Article

Abstract

Identifying the source of atmospheric dust is crucial to better understand the global marine biogeochemical cycle as phytoplankton growth relies on dissolved micronutrient elements available in the open ocean. Mineralogical, geochemical and Sr isotope analyses of a one year-time series (April 2003–April 2004) of deep ocean particle flux at the Madeira Abyssal Plain in the subtropical northeast Atlantic are presented. The lithogenic fraction has a high occurrence of palygorskite and smectite and an absence of kaolinite together with Sr isotopic compositions similar to the Northeast Atlantic aerosols. This indicates the Anti-Atlas Moroccan chain of Paleozoïc age as the source region. The lithogenic fraction supplies 4 times more Fe during a dust event than during the spring-summer aeolian input. A continuous input of only 1% of the lithogenic iron made available over a year period, could lead to an increase in primary productivity of 40% relative to today's value.

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More information

Published date: 16 November 2007
Keywords: Saharan dust, geochemistry, micronutrient
Organisations: Ocean and Earth Science, National Oceanography Centre,Southampton

Identifiers

Local EPrints ID: 50004
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/50004
ISSN: 0094-8276
PURE UUID: fe5f47c6-f61e-41e0-8b2e-dac283021f6a
ORCID for J.A. Milton: ORCID iD orcid.org/0000-0003-4245-5532

Catalogue record

Date deposited: 09 Jan 2008
Last modified: 16 Mar 2024 02:51

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Contributors

Author: V. Chavagnac
Author: J.J. Waniek
Author: D. Atkin
Author: J.A. Milton ORCID iD
Author: T. Leipe
Author: D.R.H. Green
Author: R. Bahlo
Author: T.E.F. Hayes
Author: D.E. Schulz-Bull

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