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Cited by 53Marine and coastal ecosystemsPaleontology and Stratigraphy of FossilsAtmospheric chemistry and aerosols

Impact of atmospheric deposition on the contrasting iron biogeochemistry of the North and South Atlantic Ocean

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Ussher, Simon J., Achterberg, Eric P., Powell, Claire, Baker, Alex R., Jickells, Tim D., Torres, Ricardo, Worsfold, Paul J.·2013·Global Biogeochemical Cycles
DOI 10.1002/gbc.20056
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Abstract

Dissolved iron (dFe) distributions and atmospheric and vertical subduction fluxes of dFe were determined in the upper water column for two meridional transects of the Atlantic Ocean. The data demonstrate the disparity between the iron biogeochemistry of the North and South Atlantic Ocean and show well‐defined gradients of size fractionated iron species in surface waters between geographic provinces. The highest dFe and lowest mixed layer residence times (0.4–2.5 years) were found in the northern tropical and subtropical regions. In contrast, the South Atlantic Gyre had lower dFe concentrations (<0.4 n M) and much longer residence times (>5 years), presumably due to lower atmospheric inputs and more efficient biological recycling of iron in this region. Vertical input fluxes of dFe to surface waters ranged from 20 to 170 nmol m–2 d–1 in the North Atlantic and tropical provinces, whereas average fluxes of 6–13 nmol m–2 d–1 were estimated for the South Atlantic. Our estimates showed that the variable dFe distribution over the surface Atlantic (<0.1–2.0 n M) predominantly reflected atmospheric Fe deposition fluxes (>50% of total vertical Fe flux to surface waters) rather than upwelling or vertical mixing. This demonstrates the strength of the connection between land‐derived atmospheric Fe fluxes and the biological cycling of carbon and nitrogen in the Atlantic Ocean.

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  • North Atlantic waters underlying the SAL dust plume are richer in Fe, Si, Al, Ti, Mn, P and other trace metals bio-essential for phytoplankton, in comparison with South Atlantic waters.

    “Due to massive dust deposition, North Atlantic waters underlying the SAL dust plume are richer in Fe, Si, Al, Ti, Mn, P and other trace metals bio-essential for phytoplankton, in comparison with South Atlantic waters (Han et al., 2008;Ussher et al., 2013;Conway and John, 2014;Baker and Jickells, 2017).”

    From African desert dust influences migrations and fisheries of the Atlantic skipjack-tuna (2023) · cites this paper as Ussher et al., 2013

    Section 3.1, paragraph [14] reports higher surface-water Fe and Al in the tropical North Atlantic under the Saharan dust plume than in the central South Atlantic. The paper does not establish the claimed North–South enrichment of seawater Si, Ti, Mn, or P; the Introduction, paragraph [2], instead describes Atlantic P supply as predominantly in situ or by physical transport. Page numbers are unavailable in our copy. (LLM, conf=0.88)

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Authors
Ussher, S. J., Achterberg, E. P., Powell, C., Baker, A. R., Jickells, T. D., Torres, R., & Worsfold, P. J.
Affiliations
  • Bermuda Institute of Ocean Sciences (BM)
  • National Oceanography Centre (GB)
  • University of East Anglia (GB)
  • Plymouth Marine Laboratory (GB)
  • University of Plymouth (GB)
Corresponding author
Ussher, Simon J.
ORCID
Venue
Global Biogeochemical Cycles
Publisher
American Geophysical Union (AGU)
Published
2013-11-13
Volume
27
Issue
4
Pages
1096-1107
ISSN
  • 0886-6236 (ISSN-L)
  • 1944-9224
DOI
10.1002/gbc.20056
OpenAlex
W1930487100
Cited by
53
References
0
Citations by year
2026: 1 · 2025: 4 · 2024: 1 · 2023: 5 · 2022: 2 · 2021: 1 · 2020: 2 · 2019: 3 · 2018: 4 · 2017: 8 · 2016: 5 · 2015: 9 · 2014: 8
FWCI
5.20
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Licence
onlinelibrary.wiley.com/termsAndConditions#vor (vor)
Locations
  • Global Biogeochemical Cycles (publishedVersion)
  • Helmholtz Centre for Ocean Research Kiel (GEOMAR) (acceptedVersion)
  • UEA Digital Repository (University of East Anglia) (acceptedVersion)
  • ePrints Soton (University of Southampton) (submittedVersion)
  • Marine Biological Association (submittedVersion)
Funders
  • NERC (NER/A/S/2003/00489)
  • AMT Consortium (NER/O/S2001/00680, NE/c001737/1)
Topics
  • Physical Sciences › Earth and Planetary Sciences › Oceanography › Marine and coastal ecosystems
  • Physical Sciences › Earth and Planetary Sciences › Paleontology › Paleontology and Stratigraphy of Fossils
  • Physical Sciences › Earth and Planetary Sciences › Atmospheric Science › Atmospheric chemistry and aerosols
Keywords
dissolved iron, atmospheric iron deposition, iron biogeochemistry, North Atlantic, South Atlantic, iron recycling, meridional transect, South Atlantic gyre

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