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research article

Atmospheric acidification of mineral aerosols: A source of bioavailable phosphorus for the oceans

Nenes, Athanasios  
•
Krom, M. D.
•
Mihalopoulos, N.
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2011
Atmospheric Chemistry And Physics

Primary productivity of continental and marine ecosystems is often limited or co-limited by phosphorus. Deposition of atmospheric aerosols provides the major external source of phosphorus to marine surface waters. However, only a fraction of deposited aerosol phosphorus is water soluble and available for uptake by phytoplankton. We propose that atmospheric acidification of aerosols is a prime mechanism producing soluble phosphorus from soil-derived minerals. Acid mobilization is expected to be pronounced where polluted and dust-laden air masses mix. Our hypothesis is supported by the soluble compositions and reconstructed pH values for atmospheric particulate matter samples collected over a 5-yr period at Finokalia, Crete. In addition, at least tenfold increase in soluble phosphorus was observed when Saharan soil and dust were acidified in laboratory experiments which simulate atmospheric conditions. Aerosol acidification links bioavailable phosphorus supply to anthropogenic and natural acidic gas emissions, and may be a key regulator of ocean biogeochemistry. © 2011 Author(s).

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Type
research article
DOI
10.5194/acp-11-6265-2011
Author(s)
Nenes, Athanasios  
Krom, M. D.
Mihalopoulos, N.
Van Cappellen, P.
Shi, Z.
Bougiatioti, A.
Zarmpas, P.
Herut, B.
Date Issued

2011

Publisher

Copernicus Publications

Published in
Atmospheric Chemistry And Physics
Volume

11

Start page

6265

End page

6272

Subjects

acidification

•

aerosol

•

air mass

•

atmospheric chemistry

•

bioavailability

•

biogeochemistry

•

dust

•

mobilization

•

particulate matter

•

pH

•

phosphorus

•

water chemistry

•

Crete

•

Finokalia

•

Greece

•

Lasithi

Editorial or Peer reviewed

REVIEWED

Written at

OTHER

EPFL units
LAPI  
Available on Infoscience
October 15, 2018
Use this identifier to reference this record
https://infoscience.epfl.ch/handle/20.500.14299/149002
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