The importance of atmospheric deposition for ocean productivity

Jickells, Tim and Moore, C. Mark (2015) The importance of atmospheric deposition for ocean productivity. Annual Review of Ecology, Evolution and Systematics, 46. pp. 481-501. ISSN 1545-2069

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Abstract

Dust is produced primarily in desert regions and transported long distances through the atmosphere to the oceans. Upon deposition of dust, its dissolution can provide an important source of a range of nutrients, particularly iron, to microbes living in open ocean surface waters. The dust supply is greatest nearest to deserts, hence in the Northern Hemisphere. The Southern Ocean region is farthest from these dust sources and shows clear evidence that phytoplankton primary production is limited, at least in part, by the rate of supply of iron. Iron is also essential for nitrogen fixation. In regions of high atmospheric iron supply, such as the tropical North Atlantic, stimulation of nitrogen fixation drives the phytoplankton population toward a state in which phosphorus supply rates limit primary production. Atmospheric deposition is also an important source of nitrogen to the low latitude ocean, where it stimulates primary production. In this review we consider the sources, transport, and deposition of atmospheric dust/iron and nitrogen to the oceans and their impacts on plankton systems. In conclusion, we suggest key areas for future research.

Item Type:	Article
Uncontrolled Keywords:	deserts,iron,nitrogen,phytoplankton,nitrogen fixation
Faculty \ School:	Faculty of Science > School of Environmental Sciences University of East Anglia Research Groups/Centres > Theme - ClimateUEA
UEA Research Groups:	Faculty of Science > Research Groups > Marine and Atmospheric Sciences (former - to 2017) Faculty of Science > Research Groups > Climate, Ocean and Atmospheric Sciences (former - to 2017) Faculty of Science > Research Groups > Centre for Ocean and Atmospheric Sciences
Depositing User:	Pure Connector
Date Deposited:	22 Dec 2015 14:03
Last Modified:	20 Mar 2023 12:37
URI:	https://ueaeprints.uea.ac.uk/id/eprint/55840
DOI:	10.1146/annurev-ecolsys-112414-054118

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