The sources and transport of iron in the North Pacific and its impact on marine ecosystems

Yuntao WANG,Fei CHAI,Haoran ZHANG,Huanhuan CHEN

doi:10.1080/16742834.2019.1545513

Abstract

ABSTRACTThe limitation of iron (Fe) makes the North Pacific a typically high-nitrate, low-chlorophyll (HNLC) region in comparison with other oceanic regions of the world. Iron inputs from land via river discharge and atmospheric dust deposition are the primary processes introducing Fe into the ocean. Also, subsequent physical processes are crucial in transporting biologically available Fe into the upper ocean. As anthropogenic dust increases, the Fe from anthropogenic activities is expected to become more important in terms of impacting marine ecosystems. To investigate the Fe cycle and its impact on ecosystems, a project entitled ‘The sources and transport of Fe in the North Pacific and its impact on marine ecosystems’ has been funded by the National Natural Science Foundation of China. The project will focus on three major scientific questions: (1) What are the major sources of Fe in the North Pacific? (2) What is the influence of the Fe-binding ligand cycle on marine ecosystems? (3) What is the likely ...

Highlights

The North Pacific is one of the three major high-nitrate (NO3), low-chlorophyll (HNLC) regions in the world
In the North Pacific, which is an HNLC region, Fe plays an important role in determining marine ecosystem dynamics
Increased exogenous Fe, such as that from dust caused by human activities, can promote phytoplankton primary production and uptake of CO2

Summary

Introduction

The North Pacific is one of the three major high-nitrate (NO3), low-chlorophyll (HNLC) regions in the world. Et al 2016) and observational (Gledhill et al 2015) studies have shown a lower pH will result in more biologically available Fe. our hypothesis is that both global warming and ocean acidification will weaken Fe limitation in the North Pacific, but their impacts on the ecosystem will occur through different processes. More than 10 experts working on the marine Fe cycle and its impact on ecosystems attended the meeting to discuss the implementation plan This integral project will focus on investigating the impact of Fe on the marine ecosystem at the surface of the ocean and predicting future changes by simulating the current temporal and spatial distribution of Fe in the North Pacific. The results of the study will improve our understanding of marine ecosystem development in the North Pacific, promote China’s international status in the field of Fe cycle research, and provide models to study marine ecosystems in other areas

The major sources of Fe in the North Pacific

The influence of the Fe-binding ligands cycle on marine ecosystems

The influence of global change in the future

Findings

Summary