Particulate phases are key in controlling dissolved iron concentrations in the (sub)tropical North Atlantic

Milne, Angela, Schlosser, Christian, Wake, Bronwyn D., Achterberg, Eric P., Chance, Rosie, Baker, Alex R. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8365-8953, 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). 2377–2387. ISSN 0094-8276

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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.

Item Type:	Article
Uncontrolled Keywords:	particulate iron,labile-particulate iron,dissolved iron,(sub)tropical north atlantic,oxygen minimum zone,geotraces,biogeosciences,marine systems,metals,trace element cycling,sdg 14 - life below water ,/dk/atira/pure/sustainabledevelopmentgoals/life_below_water
Faculty \ School:	Faculty of Science > School of Environmental Sciences Faculty of Science > School of Natural Sciences
UEA Research Groups:	Faculty of Science > Research Groups > Centre for Ocean and Atmospheric Sciences
Depositing User:	Pure Connector
Date Deposited:	16 Feb 2017 02:24
Last Modified:	13 Apr 2023 13:52
URI:	https://ueaeprints.uea.ac.uk/id/eprint/62633
DOI:	10.1002/2016GL072314

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