Ocean acidification affects iron speciation during a coastal seawater mesocosm experiment

• Published in: Biogeosciences
• Main Authors: Breitbarth, E., Bellerby, R. J., Neill, C. C., Ardelan, M. V., Meyerhöfer, M., Zöllner, E., Croot, P. L., Riebesell, U.
• Format: Text
• Language: English
• Published: 2018
• Subjects: Ocean acidification
• Online Access: https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-7-1065-2010; https://www.biogeosciences.net/7/1065/2010/

Rising atmospheric CO 2 is acidifying the surface ocean, a process which is expected to greatly influence the chemistry and biology of the future ocean. Following the development of iron-replete phytoplankton blooms in a coastal mesocosm experiment at 350, 700, and 1050 μatm p CO 2 , we observed significant increases in dissolved iron concentrations, Fe(II) concentrations, and Fe(II) half-life times during and after the peak of blooms in response to CO 2 enrichment and concomitant lowering of pH, suggesting increased iron bioavailability. If applicable to the open ocean this may provide a negative feedback mechanism to the rising atmospheric CO 2 by stimulating marine primary production.