Project Details
Projekt
Biogeochemistry of trace elements in the southeast Atlantic Ocean; a German contribution to the International GEOTRACES Programme
Subject Area
Oceanography
Term
from 2016 to 2021
Project identifier
Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 282121790
Our approved research cruise M121 with FS Meteor in the South Eastern (SE) Atlantic Ocean will take place in November/December 2015. With this proposal, we apply for funding of personnel to participate in the cruise and for costs during the evaluation phase after the cruise. The focus of the project is on trace metal biogeochemistry and chemical oceanography but also includes physical and biological oceanographic components. The main goal of the cruise is to determine in detail the distributions of trace elements in the water column of the SE Atlantic in order to constrain trace elements supply and removal mechanisms, their biogeochemical cycling, and their interaction with the nitrogen cycle in the study region. The cruise will officially be part of the internationally coordinated programme GEOTRACES. We will investigate in detail the distribution of the trace metals, some of which act as limiting micronutrients for primary productivity and diazotrophy. We will explore the relationship between macro- and micronutrient concentrations and fluxes, and ocean productivity and the nitrogen cycle. The trace element distribution will also be related to the distribution and mixing of the water masses of the Benguela upwelling region and their properties with respect to oxygen levels and exchange with the anoxic shelves. Furthermore, the fluxes and supply pathways of trace elements via dust (Namibian Desert), sediments and major rivers, mainly the Congo and Orange Rivers, will be investigated. Finally, we will study the offshore distribution of the trace elements as a function of major ocean circulation and water mass mixing, which will be done in collaboration with J. Scholten and M. Frank (Kiel) who submitted a complementary proposal. This work is of global significance and will provide improved understanding of the role of diverse processes in controlling the chemical environment, with focus on trace metals, in which ecosystems operate worldwide.
DFG Programme
Research Grants
