The significance of atmospheric inputs of soluble and particulate major and trace metals to the eastern Mediterranean seawater

Atmospheric deposition (wet and dry) of major and trace metals (V, Cr, Mn, Fe, Ni, Cu, Zn, Cd and Pb) was monitored at a remote location in the eastern Mediterranean Sea from January 2005 through December 2006. A comparison of atmospheric deposition fluxes with sediment traps data (simultaneously collected) highlighted the significance of atmospheric inputs to the biogeochemical cycling of trace elements.V, Cr, Fe and Pb were mainly associated with the particulate form (64–98%), whilst for Mn, Zn, Cu and Cd the soluble fraction represents 60–70% of the total input. The solubility of all studied metals in both wet and dry deposition was found to decrease with increasing pH values and increasing dust mass.Cr, Mn and Cu fluxes were higher during the dry season compared to those measured during the wet season. For the remaining metals the opposite trend is valid, whilst Fe and Zn are removed from the atmosphere almost equally by wet and dry deposition.Atmospheric deposition of major and trace metals in the eastern Mediterranean Sea was sufficient to balance metals in the water column, indicating the predominant role of atmospheric deposition as an external source of trace elements in the area.