| 1. |
- Charette, M, et al.
(author)
-
The Transpolar Drift as a Source of Riverine and Shelf‐Derived Trace Elements to the Central Arctic Ocean
- 2020
-
In: Journal of Geophysical Research - Oceans. - 2169-9275 .- 2169-9291. ; 125, s. 1-34
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- A major surface circulation feature of the Arctic Ocean is the Transpolar Drift (TPD), a current that transports river‐influenced shelf water from the Laptev and East Siberian Seas toward the center of the basin and Fram Strait. In 2015, the international GEOTRACES program included a high‐resolution pan‐Arctic survey of carbon, nutrients, and a suite of trace elements and isotopes (TEIs). The cruises bisected the TPD at two locations in the central basin, which were defined by maxima in meteoric water and dissolved organic carbon concentrations that spanned 600 km horizontally and ~25–50 m vertically. Dissolved TEIs such as Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, Hg, Nd, and Th, which are generally particle‐reactive but can be complexed by organic matter, were observed at concentrations much higher than expected for the openocean setting. Other trace element concentrations such as Al, V, Ga, and Pb were lower than expected due to scavenging over the productive East Siberian and Laptev shelf seas. Using a combination of radionuclide tracers and ice drift modeling, the transport rate for the core of the TPD was estimated at 0.9 ± 0.4 Sv(106m3 s−1). This rate was used to derive the mass flux for TEIs that were enriched in the TPD, revealing the importance of lateral transport in supplying materials beneath the ice to the central Arctic Ocean and potentially to the North Atlantic Ocean via Fram Strait. Continued intensification of the Arctic hydrologicc ycle and permafrost degradation will likely lead to an increase in the flux of TEIs into the Arctic Ocean.
|
|
| 2. |
- Charette, M, et al.
(author)
-
Coastal ocean and shelf-sea biogeochemical cycling of trace elements and isotopes: lessons learned from GEOTRACES
- 2016
-
In: Philosopical Transactions of the Royal Society A. - : The Royal Society. - 1364-503X. ; 374:2081
-
Research review (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Continental shelves and shelf seas play a central role in the global carbon cycle. However,their importance with respect to trace element and isotope (TEI) inputs to ocean basinsis less well understood. Here, we present major findings on shelf TEI biogeochemistryfrom the GEOTRACES programme as well as a proof of concept for a new method toestimate shelf TEI fluxes. The case studies focus on advances in our understanding of TEIcycling in the Arctic, transformations within a major river estuary (Amazon), shelf sedimentmicronutrient fluxes and basin-scale estimates of submarine groundwater discharge. Theproposed shelf flux tracer is 228-radium (T1/2 =5.75 yr), which is continuously supplied tothe shelf from coastal aquifers, sediment porewater exchange and rivers. Model-derived shelf228Ra fluxes are combined with TEI/ 228Ra ratios to quantify ocean TEI fluxes from thewestern North Atlantic margin. The results from this new approach agree well with previousestimates for shelf Co, Fe, Mn and Zn inputs and exceed published estimates of atmosphericdeposition by factors of approximately 3–23. Lastly, recommendations are made for additionalGEOTRACES process studies and coastal margin-focused section cruises that will help refinethe model and provide better insight on the mechanisms driving shelf-derived TEI fluxesto the ocean.This article is part of the themed issue ‘Biological and climatic impacts of ocean trace elementchemistry’.
|
|
