Vertical transport of anthropogenic lead by reversible scavenging in the South Atlantic Ocean
Vertical transport of anthropogenic lead by reversible scavenging in the South Atlantic Ocean
Stable lead (Pb) isotopes have been regarded as tracers of ocean circulation, both in the present time and geological past. Here we present a new dataset of seawater Pb concentrations and isotope compositions for ten depth profiles from the South Atlantic Ocean (GEOTRACES cruises GA02 and GA10). By comparing Pb isotope data collected on the two cruises, and by modelling the distribution of Pb with an extended optimum multiparameter analysis, we find evidence of vertical transport of anthropogenic Pb pollution due to reversible scavenging. Surface to depth transfer of polluted Pb is aided by high suspended particulate matter loads at the Brazil – Malvinas Confluence and along ∼40°S in the South Atlantic. Overall, our findings caution the use of Pb isotope ratios as ventilation tracers in the South Atlantic and emphasize the importance of particle-seawater interaction for biogeochemical cycles.
Olivelli, Arianna
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Paul, Maxence
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Xu, Hui
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Kreissig, Katharina
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Coles, Barry J.
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Moore, Rebekah E.T.
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Bridgestock, Luke
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Rijkenberg, Micha
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Middag, Rob
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Lohan, Maeve C.
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Weiss, Dominik J.
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Rehkämper, Mark
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van der Flierdt, Tina
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15 November 2024
Olivelli, Arianna
03040c5b-f337-4620-bbc9-56aa398792d3
Paul, Maxence
4a03b493-b5da-429c-9f89-ba6e50bb15de
Xu, Hui
552bd821-498f-49c0-b384-053c0da90b58
Kreissig, Katharina
37abf480-cf13-4da9-a16b-9b323e22bcc5
Coles, Barry J.
01b0f38f-d584-4a79-af72-70c5ed4c928e
Moore, Rebekah E.T.
4a6c1336-1682-456b-91f6-9ec9034919aa
Bridgestock, Luke
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Rijkenberg, Micha
9e47a0df-a007-4002-8dbe-3e300afbfb80
Middag, Rob
4603e164-62ef-4c0a-9922-9eefc56a5d2a
Lohan, Maeve C.
6ca10597-2d0f-40e8-8e4f-7619dfac5088
Weiss, Dominik J.
fee89486-170e-45ae-956e-cf4320dcce1b
Rehkämper, Mark
08591eef-a2d5-48de-9fc6-b5c0cf54f6e5
van der Flierdt, Tina
effa3147-e50b-4ac1-9fb3-184928d6cc5d
Olivelli, Arianna, Paul, Maxence, Xu, Hui, Kreissig, Katharina, Coles, Barry J., Moore, Rebekah E.T., Bridgestock, Luke, Rijkenberg, Micha, Middag, Rob, Lohan, Maeve C., Weiss, Dominik J., Rehkämper, Mark and van der Flierdt, Tina
(2024)
Vertical transport of anthropogenic lead by reversible scavenging in the South Atlantic Ocean.
Earth and Planetary Science Letters, 646, [118980].
(doi:10.1016/j.epsl.2024.118980).
Abstract
Stable lead (Pb) isotopes have been regarded as tracers of ocean circulation, both in the present time and geological past. Here we present a new dataset of seawater Pb concentrations and isotope compositions for ten depth profiles from the South Atlantic Ocean (GEOTRACES cruises GA02 and GA10). By comparing Pb isotope data collected on the two cruises, and by modelling the distribution of Pb with an extended optimum multiparameter analysis, we find evidence of vertical transport of anthropogenic Pb pollution due to reversible scavenging. Surface to depth transfer of polluted Pb is aided by high suspended particulate matter loads at the Brazil – Malvinas Confluence and along ∼40°S in the South Atlantic. Overall, our findings caution the use of Pb isotope ratios as ventilation tracers in the South Atlantic and emphasize the importance of particle-seawater interaction for biogeochemical cycles.
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1-s2.0-S0012821X24004126-main
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Accepted/In Press date: 28 August 2024
e-pub ahead of print date: 19 September 2024
Published date: 15 November 2024
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For the purpose of open access, the author has applied a Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) license to any Author Accepted Manuscript version arising.
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Local EPrints ID: 503551
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/503551
ISSN: 0012-821X
PURE UUID: 84312627-73cd-42ac-bbb5-6b269173b777
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Date deposited: 05 Aug 2025 16:37
Last modified: 22 Aug 2025 02:08
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Contributors
Author:
Arianna Olivelli
Author:
Maxence Paul
Author:
Hui Xu
Author:
Katharina Kreissig
Author:
Barry J. Coles
Author:
Rebekah E.T. Moore
Author:
Luke Bridgestock
Author:
Micha Rijkenberg
Author:
Rob Middag
Author:
Dominik J. Weiss
Author:
Mark Rehkämper
Author:
Tina van der Flierdt
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