Deposition of trace metals in Saharan Dust to the Equatorial Atlantic Ocean: Analysis of samples collected during Meteor-55 (M 55)

• Applicant: Dr. Peter Leslie Croot
• Subject Area: Oceanography
• Term: from 2003 to 2005
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 5410456

The deposition of Saharan dust to the Equatorial Atlantic is believed to be the major factor controlling the distribution and concentration of several key trace metals in this region. Globally the Equatorial Atlantic receives the greatest amount of terrestrial dust to its surface waters than any other location on the Earth and subsequently is a great natural laboratory for examining the biogeochemical process occurring when atmospheric dust interacts with the upper ocean. In particular the chemical and biological reactions involving iron contained in the dust are important to understand as iron is known to be a key limiting nutrient in many parts of the open ocean, and atmospheric deposition is believed to be the main supply route. The surface layer distributions of the other trace metals found in the dust provides critical information about the fluxes and dissolution of the dust as it interacts with the seawater. Comparison with elements not enriched in the dust allows calculation of other critical parameters; including vertical mixing and biological uptake.

• DFG Programme: Priority Programmes
• Subproject of: SPP 516: Evaluation of the "Meteor" Expeditions