Modeling the biogeochemical impact of atmospheric phosphate deposition from desert dust and combustion sources to the Mediterranean Sea

Abstract

Abstract. We used phosphate deposition from natural dust, anthropogenic combustion and wildfires

Climatology of Dust Deposition in the Adriatic Sea; a Possible Impact on Marine Production

“…In the same work, Richon et al. (2018) indicate a significant input of combustion‐derived P and N deposition to the Mediterranean Sea, which is characterized by low variability in comparison to deposition from dust, which is more episodic and widespread. The effects of N deposition span over large and deep basins such as the Ionian, Levantive, and Tyrrhenian whereas P deposition effects are mainly observed in shallow areas such as the Adriatic, Aegean, and coastal western basin (Richon et al., 2017).…”

“…(2017) showed P and N atmospheric deposition in the shallow Adriatic Sea, known as being P limited. However, observed P levels could not be explained by the respective concentrations measured in the Po River waters, implying the presence of other P sources, possibly related to the heavy rainfall (Totti et al., 2019) and aerosol dust coming from northern Africa (Kanakidou et al., 2020; Orlović‐Leko et al., 2020; Richon et al., 2018). In the same work, Richon et al.…”

“…In spring months, the mixed layer depth is usually positioned deeper (D'Ortenzio et al., 2005), and the contribution of atmospheric deposition to P budgets is maximal (Richon et al., 2018). The limiting factors for the Mediterranean Sea are mainly P and N (Krom et al., 1991, 2004, Richon et al., 2017, 2018). However, Fe has been recognized as potentially limiting or colimiting to diatom growth (Baeyens et al., 2018).…”

“…Desert dust deposition impacts biological activities mostly during the summer months when the Mediterranean Sea is depleted by nutrients after spring bloom, and vertically stratified, which reduces the upwelling of nutrient‐rich deep water to the surface (D'Ortenzio et al., 2005). In spring months, the mixed layer depth is usually positioned deeper (D'Ortenzio et al., 2005), and the contribution of atmospheric deposition to P budgets is maximal (Richon et al., 2018). The limiting factors for the Mediterranean Sea are mainly P and N (Krom et al., 1991, 2004, Richon et al., 2017, 2018).…”

Prey Stoichiometry Drives Iron Recycling by Zooplankton in the Global Ocean

“…We use the 3D global coupled physical-biogeochemical model NEMO/PISCES (Aumont et al, 2015). This model has been extensively used and evaluated to represent the global macro and micronutrient cycling at global and regional scales (see e.g., Kwiatkowski et al, 2018;Richon et al, 2018;Tagliabue et al, 2018), and to perform future climate projections (Laufkötter et al, 2015;Richon et al, 2019). The specifics of PISCES regarding iron cycling are a variable iron stoichiometry (Fe:C) in phytoplankton cells (between 0 and 80 µmolFe molC −1 ; e.g., Twining and Baines, 2013), which represents the observed variability in Fe uptake due to iron availability, iron limitation, and assumptions regarding iron allocation and storage (Aumont et al, 2015), and a fixed iron stoichiometry of zooplankton -(Fe:C) zoo -of 10 µmolFe molC −1 .…”