Accumulation of Fe oxyhydroxides in the Peruvian oxygen deficient zone implies non-oxygen dependent Fe oxidation

Heller, MI; Lam, PJ; Moffett, JW; Till, CP; Lee, JMi; Toner, BM; Marcus, MA

HERO ID

4132241

Reference Type

Journal Article

Year

2017

HERO ID 4132241
In Press No
Year 2017
Title Accumulation of Fe oxyhydroxides in the Peruvian oxygen deficient zone implies non-oxygen dependent Fe oxidation
Authors Heller, MI; Lam, PJ; Moffett, JW; Till, CP; Lee, JMi; Toner, BM; Marcus, MA
Journal Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta
Volume 211
Page Numbers 174-193
Abstract Oxygen minimum zones (OMZs) have been proposed to be an important source of dissolved iron (Fe) into the interior ocean. However, previous studies in OMZs have shown a sharp decrease in total dissolved Fe (dFe) and/or dissolved Fe (II) (dFe(II)) concentrations at the shelf-break, despite constant temperature, salinity and continued lack of oxygen across the shelf-break. The loss of both total dFe and dFe(II) suggests a conversion of the dFe to particulate form, but studies that have coupled the reduction-oxidation (redox) speciation of both dissolved and particulate phases have not previously been done. Here we have measured the redox speciation and concentrations of both dissolved and particulate forms of Fe in samples collected during the U.S. GEOTRACES Eastern tropical Pacific Zonal Transect (EPZT) cruise in 2013 (GP16). This complete data set allows us to assess possible mechanisms for loss of dFe. We observed an offshore loss of dFe(II) within the oxygen deficient zone (ODZ), where dissolved oxygen is undetectable, accompanied by an increase in total particulate Fe (pFe). Total pFe concentrations were highest in the upper ODZ. X-ray absorption spectroscopy revealed that the pFe maximum was primarily in the Fe(III) form as Fe(III) oxyhydroxides. The remarkable similarity in the distributions of total particulate iron and nitrite suggests a role for nitrite in the oxidation of dFe(II) to pFe(III). We present a conceptual model for the rapid redox cycling of Fe that occurs in ODZs, despite the absence of oxygen. (C) 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
Doi 10.1016/j.gca.2017.05.019
Wosid WOS:000405786800011
Is Certified Translation No
Dupe Override No
Is Public Yes
Keyword Oxygen minimum zone; Oxygen deficient zone; OMZ; ODZ; Fe redox cycling; Synchrotron XAS