Results from the first US-GEOTRACES cruise in the North Atlantic

Results from the first US-GEOTRACES cruise in the North Atlantic are coming out! Andrew Wozniak and co-authors show that aerosols from European-influenced air masses (combustion influenced) have higher relative iron (Fe) and aluminium (Al) solubilities, higher Water Soluble Organic Carbon (WSOC)/trace metal ratios, and distinct organic matter (OM) chemical characteristics compared to those from North African-influenced (mineral dust) air masses (see Figure below). Many factors influencing the solubility of trace metals are discussed. However, the data shown in this work are consistent with an important role for carboxylate aerosol water soluble OM (WSOM) ligands in determining the solubility of Fe and Al in continentally-derived aerosols.

Figure: Aerosol trace metal loadings, fractional solubilities, and water soluble organic carbon to trace metal ratios for aerosol a) Fe and b) Al in samples characterized by North African (brown), European (green), and marine (blue) air mass trajectories. Please click here to view the image larger.

Reference:

Andrew S. Wozniak, Rachel U. Shelley, Rachel L. Sleighter, Hussain A.N. Abdulla, Peter L. Morton, William M. Landing, Patrick G. Hatcher (2013) Relationships among aerosol water soluble organic matter, iron and aluminum in European, North African, and Marine air masses from the 2010 US GEOTRACES cruise, Marine Chemistry, Volume: 154, 24-33, DOI: 10.1016/j.marchem.2013.04.011