Vertical transport of anthropogenic lead by reversible scavenging in the South Atlantic Ocean

Stable lead (Pb) isotopes have been regarded as tracers of ocean circulation, both in the present time and geological past. Here we present a new dataset of seawater Pb concentrations and isotope compositions for ten depth profiles from the South Atlantic Ocean (GEOTRACES cruises GA02 and GA10). By...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Earth and Planetary Science Letters
Main Authors: Olivelli, Arianna, Maxence, Paul, Xu, Hui, Kreissig, Katharina, Coles, Barry, Moore, Rebekah, Bridgestock, Luke, Rijkenberg, Micha, Middag, Rob, Lohan, Maeve, Weiss, Dominik, Rehkamper, Mark, van de Flierdt, Tina
Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
Language:unknown
Published: Elsevier 2024
Subjects:
South Atlantic Ocean
Online Access:http://hdl.handle.net/10044/1/114473
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0012821X24004126
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.epsl.2024.118980
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Summary:Stable lead (Pb) isotopes have been regarded as tracers of ocean circulation, both in the present time and geological past. Here we present a new dataset of seawater Pb concentrations and isotope compositions for ten depth profiles from the South Atlantic Ocean (GEOTRACES cruises GA02 and GA10). By comparing Pb isotope data collected on the two cruises, and by modelling the distribution of Pb with an extended optimum multiparameter analysis, we find evidence of vertical transport of anthropogenic Pb pollution due to reversible scavenging. Surface to depth transfer of polluted Pb is aided by high suspended particulate matter loads at the Brazil – Malvinas Confluence and along ∼40°S in the South Atlantic. Overall, our findings caution the use of Pb isotope ratios as ventilation tracers in the South Atlantic and emphasize the importance of particle-seawater interaction for biogeochemical cycles.

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