A Lagrangian View of Trace Elements and Isotopes in the North Pacific
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AbstractOcean timeseries sites are influenced by both temporal variability, as in situ conditions change, as well as spatial variability, as water masses move across the fixed observation point. To remove the effect of spatial variability, this study made subdaily Lagrangian observations of trace elements and isotopes (Al, Sc, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, Cd, Pb, 232Th, and 230Th) in surface water over a 12day period (JulyAugust 2015) in the North Pacific near the Hawaii Ocean Timeseries Station ALOHA. Additionally, a vertical profile in the upper 250m was analyzed. This dataset is intercalibrated with GEOTRACES standards and provides a consistent baseline for trace element studies in the oligotrophic North Pacific. No diel changes in trace elements could be resolved, although daytoday variations were resolved for some elements (Fe, Cu, and Zn), which may be related to organic matter cycling or ligand availability. Pb concentrations remained relatively constant during 19972015, presenting a change from previous decreases. Nutrient to trace element stoichiometric ratios were compared to those observed in phytoplankton as an indication of the extent of biological trace element utilization in this ecosystem, providing a basis for future ecological trace element studies.
