Dissolved aluminium in the ocean conveyor of the West Atlantic Ocean: Effects of the biological cycle, scavenging, sediment resuspension and hydrography

This thus far longest (17,500 km) full depth ocean section shows that the distribution of Al can be explained by its input sources and the combination of association with particles and release from those particles at depth, the latter most likely when the particles remineralise. The association of Al with particles can be due to incorporation of Al into biogenic silica or scavenging of Al onto biogenic particles. The interaction between Al and biogenic particles can lead to the coupled cycling of Al and silicate that is observed in some ocean regions. However, in other regions this coupling is not observed due to (i) advective processes bringing in older water masses that are depleted in Al, (ii) unfavourable scavenging conditions in the water column, (iii) low surface concentrations of Al or (iv) additional Al sources, notably sediment resuspension.