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Winter-time dissolved iron and nutrient distributions in the Subantarctic Zone from 40-52S; 155-160E
Citation
Ellwood, MJ and Boyd, PW and Sutton, P, Winter-time dissolved iron and nutrient distributions in the Subantarctic Zone from 40-52S; 155-160E, Geophysical Research Letters, 35, (11) Article L11604. ISSN 0094-8276 (2008) [Refereed Article]
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Copyright Statement
Copyright 2008 American Geophysical Union.
Abstract
In HNLC oceanic regions, iron (Fe) controls phytoplankton productivity yet large gaps remain in our understanding of iron's biogeochemical cycle. Here we present the first comprehensive winter dataset for dissolved Fe (dFe) and nitrate (NO3) distributions (0–1000 m depth) between 40S–52S, which transects the Subantarctic zone (SAZ), west of New Zealand. Surface concentrations (<0.2 nmol Fe kg−1) were conspicuously low, i.e., probably biologically limiting even at winter-reserve levels, at frontal zones between 43S (Subtropical Front) and ∼51S (Subantarctic Front). A fivefold range in Fe:NO3 molar ratios was observed along the transect, with Subtropical waters, where blooms occur, having the highest ratios in subsurface waters. The major wintertime supply of dFe in the SAZ is from Ekman advection of waters from the south (but calculated source water dFe is ∼0.2 nmol Fe kg−1), suggesting that mixed-layer dFe concentration is controlled by how long these southern waters remain at the surface (∼3 years).
Item Details
Item Type: | Refereed Article |
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Research Division: | Earth Sciences |
Research Group: | Oceanography |
Research Field: | Chemical oceanography |
Objective Division: | Environmental Management |
Objective Group: | Marine systems and management |
Objective Field: | Measurement and assessment of marine water quality and condition |
UTAS Author: | Boyd, PW (Professor Philip Boyd) |
ID Code: | 95531 |
Year Published: | 2008 |
Web of Science® Times Cited: | 37 |
Deposited By: | IMAS Research and Education Centre |
Deposited On: | 2014-10-03 |
Last Modified: | 2014-11-18 |
Downloads: | 442 View Download Statistics |
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