EarthRef.org Reference Database (ERR)
Development and Maintenance by the EarthRef.org Database Team

Detailed Reference Information
Erickson et al. 2003
Erickson, D.J., Hernandez, J.L., Ginoux, P., Gregg, W.W., McClain, C. and Christian, J. (2003). Atmospheric iron delivery and surface ocean biological activity in the Southern Ocean and Patagonian region. Geophysical Research Letters 30: doi: 10.1029/2003GL017241. issn: 0094-8276.

Iron is a limiting nutrient for biologic activity in much of the world ocean. We present a method to quantitatively address the response of surface ocean biology to inputs of atmospheric Fe associated with atmospheric dust. We merge two enabling technologies, global models of Earth system processes and satellite derived chlorophyll concentrations to assess the importance of Fe in oceanic biogeochemistry. We present an objective correlation analysis to elucidate the spatial response of chlorophyll to iron flux considering the ocean surface meridional center of mass in areas with high correlation. Several regions between 40¿S and 60¿S show correlations from 0.6 to 0.95, significant at the 0.05 level, particularly the Patagonian region. Surface chlorophyll and iron flux follow similar patterns, however chlorophyll may be displaced to different latitudes than where Fe input occurs due to meridional ocean transport.

BACKGROUND DATA FILES

Abstract

Keywords
Global Change, Biogeochemical processes, Global Change, Remote sensing, Atmospheric Composition and Structure, Aerosols and particles (0345, 4801), Atmospheric Composition and Structure, Air/sea constituent fluxes (3339, 4504), Atmospheric Composition and Structure, Geochemical cycles
Journal
Geophysical Research Letters
http://www.agu.org/journals/gl/
Publisher
American Geophysical Union
2000 Florida Avenue N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20009-1277
USA
1-202-462-6900
1-202-328-0566
service@agu.org
Click to clear formClick to return to previous pageClick to submit