Impact of atmospheric deposition of anthropogenic and natural trace metals on Northwestern Mediterranean surface waters: A box model assessment

Type Article
Date 2011-06
Language English
Author(s) Heimbuerger Lars-Eric1, 2, 3, Migon Christophe1, 2, Cossa Daniel3
Affiliation(s) 1 : Univ Paris 06, UMR 7093, LOV, Observ Oceanog, F-06234 Villefranche Sur Mer, France.
2 : CNRS, UMR 7093, LOV, Observ Oceanog, F-06234 Villefranche Sur Mer, France.
3 : IFREMER, Ctr Mediterranee, F-83507 La Seyne Sur Mer, France.
Source Environmental Pollution (0269-7491) (Elsevier Sci Ltd), 2011-06 , Vol. 159 , N. 6 , P. 1629-1634
DOI 10.1016/j.envpol.2011.02.046
WOS© Times Cited 30
Keyword(s) Atmospheric deposition, Trace metal pollution, Box model, Northwestern Mediterranean, Impact evaluation, Environmental antipollution policies
Abstract Under stratified oligotrophic conditions (May November), the surface mixed layer of the Northwestern Mediterranean constitutes a homogeneous water volume of 10-30 m depth. In other respects, the mean residence time of Ligurian surface waters (0-200 m) is 102 days. It is therefore possible to quantify the extent to which atmospheric deposition of trace metals affects surface waters. On the basis of literature data on anthropogenic and natural trace metals, we demonstrate that the ratios between total seawater labile atmospheric deposition during 102 days (Delta c) and dissolved TM concentrations in Ligurian surface waters (c) illustrate the impact of atmospheric deposition on surface seawater (Delta c/c). High ratios indicate surface TM enrichments, while low ratios indicate surface TM depletion, due to the quasi-complete sorption and removal of TMs by plankton during spring bloom. The simple box model proposed here may be used for other marine regions where hydrodynamical and physico-chemical constraints are well defined. (C) 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
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