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

Science Highlights

28 October 2013

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.

13 Wozniak h
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

Latest highlights

Hydrothermal activity detected above the ultra-slow South West Indian Ridge, using a multi-proxy approach

Baudet and colleagues demonstrate the occurrence of hydrothermal venting on the Southwest Indian Ridge…

To Ba or not to Ba: Evaluating water column excess particulate barium as a proxy for water column respiration

Rahman and co-workers examine the relationship between excess particulate barium and organic matter respiration in the water column…

Assessment of the Solomon Sea’s dissolved iron contribution to the Equatorial Under Current

Sarthou and co-workers analysed 11 vertical profiles of dissolved iron at the entrance, within, and at the exit of the Solomon Sea…

Major controls on the fate of dissolved manganese in the northeastern Indian Ocean

Malla and Singh investigated the key factors controlling dissolved manganese in the northeastern Indian Ocean.

Rechercher