The atmosphere is considered an important route for delivering nutrients to sensitive marine environments such as the remote oceans or the oligotrophic Mediterranean Sea. Atmospheric deposition of nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), iron (Fe), copper (Cu) and other elements can directly impact marine biological activity and primary productivity. Airborne dust, mainly emitted from soils in arid and semi-arid regions, is the most important source of trace metals and airborne phosphorus
Emissions from anthropogenic activity has considerably modulated the deposition patterns of these nutrients, with profound impacts on biogeochemical cycles. Apart from direct emissions of reactive nitrogen (oxidized from combustion and reduced forms from agriculture), changes in atmospheric acidity modulate gas-particle partitioning of semi volatiles and the bioavailability by increasing their solubility. The latter is especially important in the case of airborne dust acidification, as it can mobilize Fe, P, Cu, trace nutrients that may promote or inhibit primary productivity throughout the oceans. Airborne particles of biological origin (e.g. bacteria, viruses, fungi, fungal spores, pollen) have been found to make a significant contribution to atmospheric sources of N and P, indicating potentially significant interactions between terrestrial and marine ecosystems.
At LAPI, we use advanced analytical approaches (e.g. chromatography and high resolution mass spectrometry) as powerful tools in chemical analysis. The high-resolution analysis achieved with these analytical approaches identify and quantify the inorganic and organic species associated with the nutrients in atmospheric particles, as well as the impact of atmospheric processing thereon. The development of high resolution online analytical techniques for field deployment, combined with atmospheric modeling address questions of high ecological importance for nutrient deposition and marine ecosystems.
Research themes
Atmospheric processing of aerosols and their impacts on nutrient bioavailability.
Impacts of atmospheric nutrient delivery to marine ecosystems.
