Anti-Atlas Moroccan Chain as the source of lithogenic-derived micronutrient fluxes to the deep Northeast Atlantic Ocean

Abstract

Identifying the source of atmospheric dust is crucial to better understand the global marine biogeochemical cycle as phytoplankton growth relies on dissolved micronutrient elements available in the open ocean. Mineralogical, geochemical and Sr isotope analyses of a one year-time series (April 2003-April 2004) of deep ocean particle flux at the Madeira Abyssal Plain in the subtropical northeast Atlantic are presented. The lithogenic fraction has a high occurrence of palygorskite and smectite and an absence of kaolinite together with Sr isotopic compositions similar to the Northeast Atlantic aerosols. This indicates the Anti-Atlas Moroccan chain of Paleozoïc age as the source region. The lithogenic firaction supplies 4 times more Fe during a dust event than during the spring-summer aeolian input. A continuous input of only 1% of the lithogenic iron made available over a year period, could lead to an increase in primary productivity of 40% relative to today's value. Copyright 2007 by the American Geophysical Union.