Atmospheric phosphorus deposition in a near-coastal rural site in the NE Iberian Peninsula and its role in marine productivity
Izquierdo Miguel, Rebeca (Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona. Institut de Ciència i Tecnologia Ambientals)
Benitez-Nelson, Claudia (Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona. Institut de Ciència i Tecnologia Ambientals)
Masqué Barri, Pere (Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona. Departament de Física)
Castillo, Sonia (Institut de Diagnosi Ambiental i Estudis de l'Aigua)
Alastuey, Andrés (Institut de Diagnosi Ambiental i Estudis de l'Aigua)
Àvila i Castells, Anna (Centre de Recerca Ecològica i d'Aplicacions Forestals)

Date:	2012
Abstract:	In this study, African red-rains were collected at Montseny (NE Spain) on a weekly basis and analyzed for total particulate phosphorus (TPP), total dissolved P (TDP) and soluble reactive P (SRP) for the period 1996-2008. Wet and dry weekly deposition of TPP was analyzed for all provenances in 2002-2003. In this period, African sources were found to contribute 66% of the 576 μmol m⁻² y⁻¹ of total particulate phosphorus (TPP) deposited in Montseny, split almost evenly between dry and wet deposition. Measurement of this dry deposition further allowed a direct determination of deposition velocity (Vd), which suggested significant depositional differences between African (Vd = 3. 1 ± 0. 80 cm s⁻¹) and non-African events (Vd = 1. 07 ± 0. 13 cm s⁻¹). Measurement of TDP concentrations during the African rains suggests a solubility of 11. 2% TPP. SRP solubility was lower (2. 2%), highlighting the importance of understanding the composition of the atmospherically derived P component. Samples were collected 25 km from the Mediterranean coast and were assumed to represent the atmospheric P input to coastal waters. On an annual basis, atmospheric-derived soluble P contributed <1% of annual new primary production in the western Mediterranean. However, one strong African dust event (22-27 May, 2008) accounted for 24-33 % of the atmospheric P-induced annual new production. These results highlight the potential biogeochemical importance of seasonality, source, and composition of aerosols deposited in the Western Mediterranean Sea.
Grants:	Ministerio de Educación y Ciencia CGL2005-07543/CLI Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación CGL2009-13188-C03-01 Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación CSD2008-00040
Rights:	Tots els drets reservats.
Language:	Anglès
Document:	Article ; recerca ; Versió acceptada per publicar
Subject:	African dust ; Marine productivity ; Mediterranean ; Particulate matter ; Phosphorus ; Wet/dry deposition
Published in:	Atmospheric environment, Vol. 49 (March 2012) , p. 361-370, ISSN 1352-2310

DOI: 10.1016/j.atmosenv.2011.11.007

Post-print 44 p, 961.5 KB

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Research literature > UAB research groups literature > Research Centres and Groups (research output) > Experimental sciences > CREAF (Centre de Recerca Ecològica i d'Aplicacions Forestals)
Research literature > UAB research groups literature > Research Centres and Groups (research output) > Experimental sciences > Institut de Ciència i Tecnologia Ambientals (ICTA)
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Articles > Published articles