The role of iron as a micronutrient in the Antarctic sea ice environment ...

• Main Author: van der Merwe, P
• Format: Thesis
• Language: unknown
• Published: University Of Tasmania 2023
• Subjects: Antarctic; Southern Ocean; The Antarctic; Antarc*; ice algae; Sea ice
• Online Access: https://dx.doi.org/10.25959/23210822; https://figshare.utas.edu.au/articles/thesis/The_role_of_iron_as_a_micronutrient_in_the_Antarctic_sea_ice_environment/23210822

It is now understood that the Southern Ocean is a high-nutrient, low-chlorophyll zone; production being limited by the micronutrient iron (Fe). The seasonal formation and subsequent melt of Antarctic sea ice covers an area of approximately 17 million km2, an area roughly twice the size of the Australian continent. Sea ice has the ability to store Fe at concentrations two orders of magnitude higher than in the underlying water column. Its formation can negatively influence the concentration of dissolved Fe in surface waters surrounding the continent by entrainment within the sea ice. However, during its melt, it can release this stored reserve of Fe into the underlying water column at a time that is coincidentally ideal for algal growth. During the winter, light-limited conditions prevail, however, during spring and into summer, stratification of the water column due to increased meltwater and shallowing of the mixed layer, combine with increased solar radiation, seeding of the water column with sea ice algae ...