Decoupling between dissolved zinc and silicon in the North Atlantic Ocean driven by mixing of end-members

Science Highlights

22 September 2015

Roshan and Wu (2015, see reference below) reveal that the correlation between dissolved zinc (Zn) and silicon (Si) is relatively weak in the North Atlantic Ocean (GA03 US section). They use the results of an Optimum Multi-Parameter Water Mass Analysis to establish which parameter is mainly controlling the Zn distribution. Surprisingly, they present evidence that remineralization might have an insignificant effect on the zinc distribution in this region. They conclude that dissolved zinc in the North Atlantic Ocean is mainly controlled by water mass mixing, although some water mass end-members exhibit deviations in the Zn-Si correlation, as for example the Mediterranean Outflow Waters. Unexpected large Zn inputs of hydrothermal origin are also perturbing the game…

15 Roshan

Figure: Top panel shows the distribution of dissolved Zn along the GA03. Bottom panel shows the Zn-Si relationship for the zonal (left) and meridional (right) transect. Disappearance of a linear correlation is evident, particularly for the meridional transect where the Mediterranean waters have a great influence. Click here to view the figure larger.

Reference:

Roshan, S., & Wu, J. (2015). Water mass mixing: The dominant control on the zinc distribution in the North Atlantic Ocean. Global Biogeochemical Cycles, 29(7), 1060–1074. doi:10.1002/2014GB005026

Latest highlights

Rare Earth and neodymium isotope cycles in the abyssal Pacific Ocean are shaking up the paradigm established for particle reactive tracers

Du and colleagues demonstrate the importance of the abyssal sediment source in the control of the trace element and isotopes marine distribution.

Anthropogenic iron impact on the surface productivity in the Pacific Transition Zone

Hawco and colleagues investigated the influence of industrial emissions on oceanic iron supply and its ecological consequences in the North Pacific.

Trace metal effluxes from Peruvian shelf sediments

Liu and co-authors compared four methods to estimate dissolved iron fluxes from Peruvian shelf sediments, revealing large variability.

Coupling copper and neodymium data highlights the importance of the margin sources for the copper oceanic cycle

Lemaitre and co-workers analysed the dissolved concentrations and isotopes along the GEOVIDE (GA01) section in the North Atlantic Ocean.

Rechercher