Comparative roles of upwelling and glacial iron sources in Ryder Bay, coastal western Antarctic Peninsula

Annett, Amber L.; Skiba, Marta; Henley, Sian F.; Venables, Hugh J.; Meredith, Michael P. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7342-7756; Statham, Peter J.; Ganeshram, Raja S.. 2015 Comparative roles of upwelling and glacial iron sources in Ryder Bay, coastal western Antarctic Peninsula. Marine Chemistry, 176. 21-33. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marchem.2015.06.017

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Abstract/Summary

Iron (Fe) is an essential micronutrient for phytoplankton, and is scarce in many regions including the open Southern Ocean. The western Antarctic Peninsula (WAP), an important source region of Fe to the wider Southern Ocean, is also the fastest warming region of the southern hemisphere. The relative importance of glacial versus marine Fe sources is currently poorly constrained, hindering projections of how changing oceanic circulation, productivity, and glacial dynamics may affect the balance of Fe sources in this region. Dissolved and total dissolvable Fe concentrations were measured throughout the summer bloom period at a coastal site on the WAP. Iron inputs to the surface mixed layer in early summer were strongly correlated with meteoric meltwater from glaciers and precipitation. A significant source of Fe from underlying waters was also identified, with dissolved Fe concentrations of up to 9.5 nM at 200 m depth. These two primary Fe sources act on different timescales, with glacial sources supplying Fe during the warm summer growing period, and deep water replenishing Fe over annual periods via deep winter mixing. Iron supply from deep water is sufficient to meet biological demand relative to macronutrient supply, making Fe limitation unlikely in this area even without additional summer Fe inputs from glacial sources. Both glacial and deep-water Fe sources may increase with continued climate warming, potentially enhancing the role of the WAP as an Fe source to offshore waters.

Item Type:	Publication - Article
Digital Object Identifier (DOI):	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marchem.2015.06.017
Programmes:	BAS Programmes > Global Science in the Antarctic Context (2005-2009) > Long-Term Monitoring and Survey – Physical Sciences Division BAS Programmes > BAS Programmes 2015 > Polar Oceans
ISSN:	0304-4203
Additional Keywords:	iron, aluminium, iron budget, glacial input, upwelling, Ryder Bay
NORA Subject Terms:	Chemistry
Date made live:	01 Jul 2015 10:08 +0 (UTC)
URI:	https://nora.nerc.ac.uk/id/eprint/508009

Item Type:

Publication - Article

Digital Object Identifier (DOI):

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marchem.2015.06.017

Programmes:

BAS Programmes > Global Science in the Antarctic Context (2005-2009) > Long-Term Monitoring and Survey – Physical Sciences Division
BAS Programmes > BAS Programmes 2015 > Polar Oceans

ISSN:

0304-4203

Additional Keywords:

iron, aluminium, iron budget, glacial input, upwelling, Ryder Bay

NORA Subject Terms:

Chemistry