Document Type
Article
Publication Date
2010
DOI
10.1029/2010g044817
Publication Title
Geophysical Research Letters
Volume
37
Issue
L20601
Pages
1-4
Abstract
Paytan et al. (2009) argue that the atmospheric deposition of aerosols lead to copper concentrations that are potentially toxic to marine phytoplankton in a large area of tropical and subtropical North Atlantic Ocean. A key assumption in their model is that all marine aerosols (mineral dust and anthropogenic particles) have a high (40%) fractional solubility of copper. Our data show that the fractional solubility of copper for Saharan dust over the Sargasso Sea and Bermuda is significantly lower (1-7%). In contrast, anthropogenic aerosols with non-Saharan sources have significantly higher values (10-100%). Hence, the potential Cu toxicity in the tropical and subtropical North Atlantic should be re-estimated, given the low fractional solubility of Cu in the Saharan dust that dominates aerosol deposition to this region.
Original Publication Citation
Sholkovitz, E.R., Sedwick, P.N., & Church, T.M. (2010). On the fractional solubility of copper in marine aerosols: Toxicity of aeolian copper revisited. Geophysical Research Letters, 37(L20601), 1-4. doi: 10.1029/2010gl044817
Repository Citation
Sholkovitz, Edward R.; Sedwick, Peter N.; and Church, Thomas M., "On the Fractional Solubillity of Copper in Marine Aerosols: Toxicity of Aeolian Copper Revisited" (2010). OES Faculty Publications. 104.
https://digitalcommons.odu.edu/oeas_fac_pubs/104
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