Particulate trace element export in the North Atlantic Ocean

Science Highlights

12 November 2020

Associating the concentrations of particulate trace elements (pTEs*) and of solid phases (lithogenic, iron- (Fe) and manganese- (Mn) oxides, calcium carbonate, and opal) to the thorium-234 (234Th) approach, Lemaitre and co-workers estimated particulate trace element export fluxes and residence times in the upper North Atlantic Ocean (GEOVIDE GA01 cruise section). Export fluxes of pTEs vary significantly between elements and between basins. Lithogenic particles mainly control the pTE export fluxes at proximity of the Iberian margin where the highest fluxes were found, leading to short TE residence times in the upper layers of this area. In the west European and Icelandic basins, pTE export fluxes and the relatively short TE residence times highlight that Mn and Fe oxides, abundant in this area, act as important carriers of TEs to the deep ocean. Contrastingly, the lower pTE export fluxes and longer residence times observed in the Labrador and Irminger basins probably reflect the more important contribution of biogenic particles there.

*Aluminium (Al), cadmium (Cd), cobalt (Co), cupper (Cu), iron (Fe), manganese (Mn), nickel (Ni), phosphorus (P), titanium (Ti), vanadium (V) and zinc (Zn).

Figure: Iron budget in the upper North Atlantic during the GEOVIDE cruise. High lithogenic contribution (in brown) drive high inventories, high export fluxes and short residence times near the Iberian margin (right panel). Even though inventories and export fluxes are lower in the Icelandic and west European basin (middle panel), residence times remain short thanks to the efficient transport of Fe- and Mn-oxides (in blue). Conversely, pTEs remained longer in the upper waters of the Irminger and Labrador basins (left panel) when the contribution of biogenic particles is greater (in green).

Reference:

N. Lemaitre, H. Planquette, F. Dehairs, F. Planchon, G. Sarthou, M. Gallinari, S. Roig, C. Jeandel, M. Castrillejo. Particulate trace element export in the North Atlantic (GEOTRACES GA01 transect, GEOVIDE cruise). ACS Earth and Space Chemistry, 2020. DOI: 10.1021/acsearthspacechem.0c00045

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