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

Unveiling the Complexity of Lead Distribution in the Pacific Ocean: Insights from the GEOTRACES GP15 Transect

This recent study by Jiang and colleagues investigate the distribution and sources of lead in the Pacific Ocean.

Organic matter export rates along a North-South Pacific Ocean section: what three estimating methods tell us

Quay and his colleagues present estimates of the organic matter export rate along the GEOTRACES GP15 cruise section.

East-West contrasting fate and anthropogenic inputs for dissolved trace metals in the Subarctic Pacific Ocean

Chan and co-authors report the full-depth distribution of dissolved nickel, copper, zinc, and cadmium in the North Pacific Ocean.

Comprehensive quantification of the rare earth element cycle in the northwest Pacific Ocean

Cao and co-authors investigate dissolved rare earth elements and the factors controlling their distributions in the northwest Pacific Ocean.

Rechercher