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Mapping phytoplankton iron utilization: Insights into Southern Ocean supply mechanisms
Citation
Boyd, PW and Arrigo, KR and Strzepek, R and van Dijken, GL, Mapping phytoplankton iron utilization: Insights into Southern Ocean supply mechanisms, Journal of Geophysical Research-Space Physics, 117, (6) Article C06009. ISSN 0148-0227 (2012) [Refereed Article]
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Copyright Statement
Copyright 2012 American Geophysical Union.
Abstract
The emerging field of ocean iron biogeochemistry has prompted interest in the identification and quantification of Fe supply mechanisms. However, less attention has been given to estimating biological Fe utilization, and using the magnitude of Fe utilization to enhance our understanding of modes of supply. Here, we combine regionally validated data sets (1997-2007) on remotely sensed net primary production (NPP) with the iron:carbon (Fe:C) molar ratios for resident phytoplankton to produce Southern Ocean maps of Fe utilization. This approach exploits the resolution of remotely sensed data to investigate the spatial patterns, areal extent and interannual variability of Fe utilization, and relates it to published temporal and spatial trends for Fe supply mechanisms. We estimate that Southern Ocean Fe utilization averaged ∼3.3±0.3 × 108 μmol Fe a-1. This utilization varied little between years (7.8-9.6 μmol Fe m-2 a-1), was greatest for subpolar waters, particularly in the Atlantic (up to 53.0 μmol Fe m-2 a-1), and was lowest for the polar waters of the Indian sector. Application of maps corresponding to the location and areal extent of Fe supply regions (e.g., dust deposition) revealed that Fe utilization was highest in waters supplied by Patagonian dust, and to a lesser extent, where sediment resuspension (i.e. <500 m depth) probably supplies the majority of the Fe. The Atlantic sector has regions where multiple supply mechanisms are evident, resulting in perennially high productivity. This approach provides a better assessment of the relative importance, realm of influence, and areal extent of different Fe supply mechanisms to Southern Ocean waters.
Item Details
Item Type: | Refereed Article |
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Keywords: | data sets, dust deposition, high productivity, interannual variability, iron utilization, molar ratio, multiple supplies, net primary production, polar waters, remotely sensed data, sediment resuspension, Southern ocean, spatial patterns |
Research Division: | Biological Sciences |
Research Group: | Ecology |
Research Field: | Marine and estuarine ecology (incl. marine ichthyology) |
Objective Division: | Environmental Policy, Climate Change and Natural Hazards |
Objective Group: | Adaptation to climate change |
Objective Field: | Climate change adaptation measures (excl. ecosystem) |
UTAS Author: | Boyd, PW (Professor Philip Boyd) |
ID Code: | 95602 |
Year Published: | 2012 |
Web of Science® Times Cited: | 91 |
Deposited By: | IMAS Research and Education Centre |
Deposited On: | 2014-10-06 |
Last Modified: | 2017-11-01 |
Downloads: | 383 View Download Statistics |
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