Deep dissolved iron profiles in the eastern North Atlantic in relation to water masses

• Published in: Geophysical Research Letters
• Main Authors: Laës, Agathe, Blain, Stéphane, Laan, Patrick, Achterberg, Eric P., Sarthou, Géraldine, de Baar, H. J. W.
• Other Authors: Laboratoire des Sciences de l'Environnement Marin (LEMAR) (LEMAR), Institut de Recherche pour le Développement (IRD)-Institut Français de Recherche pour l'Exploitation de la Mer (IFREMER)-Université de Brest (UBO)-Institut Universitaire Européen de la Mer (IUEM), Institut de Recherche pour le Développement (IRD)-Institut national des sciences de l'Univers (INSU - CNRS)-Université de Brest (UBO)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS)-Institut de Recherche pour le Développement (IRD)-Institut national des sciences de l'Univers (INSU - CNRS)-Université de Brest (UBO)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), Royal Netherlands Institute for Sea Research (NIOZ), Department of Marine Chemistry and Geology, Plymouth University
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: HAL CCSD 2003
• Subjects: LABRADOR-SEA-WATER; WORLD OCEAN; PACIFIC; HYDROGRAPHY; SEAWATER; BISCAY; MARGIN; FLUX; BAY; ACL; [SDU.OCEAN]Sciences of the Universe [physics]/Ocean; Atmosphere; Pacific; Labrador Sea; North Atlantic; North East Atlantic
• Online Access: https://hal.science/hal-02639344; https://hal.science/hal-02639344/document; https://hal.science/hal-02639344/file/2003GL017902.pdf; https://doi.org/10.1029/2003GL017902

International audience Concentrations of dissolved iron (DFe, 0.2mum) were determined at two stations in the Biscay Abyssal Plain ( North East Atlantic) in March 2002. DFe concentrations in the surface layer (0.23-0.34 nM) were typical of winter conditions in this area. At 1000 m, DFe concentrations increased to 0.62-0.86 nM. This feature is consistent with the production of DFe by remineralization of the biogenic material. However, at this depth, Mediterranean Outflow Water ( MOW) could be an additional source of DFe. Below 2500 m, DFe concentrations were constant (0.75 +/- 0.04 nM). An interesting feature of the profiles was the intermediate maximum of DFe (1.19-1.12 nM) around 2000 m, associated with the Labrador Sea Water (LSW). We suggest that the iron enrichment of LSW occurred when this water mass reached the continental margin, likely in the vicinity of the Goban plateau. Vertical distributions were highly dependent on water masses encountered.