Preprints
https://doi.org/10.5194/ar-2024-21
https://doi.org/10.5194/ar-2024-21
13 Aug 2024
 | 13 Aug 2024
Status: a revised version of this preprint was accepted for the journal AR and is expected to appear here in due course.

Dust deposition fluxes at the gateway to the Southern Ocean: investigating the use of lithogenic tracer measurements in aerosols collected in Tasmania, Australia

Claudia Hird, Morgane M. G. Perron, Thomas M. Holmes, Scott Meyerink, Christopher Nielsen, Ashley T. Townsend, Patrice de Caritat, Michal Strzelec, and Andrew R. Bowie

Abstract. Australia contributes a significant amount of dust-borne nutrients (including iron) to the Southern Ocean, which can stimulate marine primary productivity. A quantitative assessment of the variability of dust fluxes from Australia to the surrounding ocean is therefore important for investigating the impact of atmospheric deposition on the Southern Ocean’s carbon cycle. In this study, lithogenic trace metals (aluminium, iron, thorium and titanium) contained in aerosols collected between 2016 and 2021 from kunanyi/Mount Wellington in lutruwita/Tasmania (Australia) were used to estimate dust deposition fluxes. Lithogenic fluxes were calculated using each tracer individually, as well as an average using all four tracers. This latter approach enabled an assessment of the uncertainty associated with flux calculations using only individual tracers. Elemental ratios confirmed the lithogenic nature of each tracer in aerosols when compared with both Australian soil samples and the average Earth’s upper continental crust. Determined lithogenic flux estimates were consistent with a regular dust deposition peak during the austral summer, in line with the dust storm season in the southeast of Australian, and a low atmospheric deposition in winter. This study provides an insight into the seasonal and interannual variability of dust deposition fluxes from the southeast of Australia based on aerosol sample measurements. This information will enhance our understanding of nutrient-bearing dust deposition to the Australian sector of the Southern Ocean and may prove useful in refining modelling estimates of southern hemisphere atmospheric deposition fluxes and their subsequent impact on global biogeochemical cycles.

Publisher's note: Copernicus Publications remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims made in the text, published maps, institutional affiliations, or any other geographical representation in this preprint. The responsibility to include appropriate place names lies with the authors.
Claudia Hird, Morgane M. G. Perron, Thomas M. Holmes, Scott Meyerink, Christopher Nielsen, Ashley T. Townsend, Patrice de Caritat, Michal Strzelec, and Andrew R. Bowie

Status: closed

Comment types: AC – author | RC – referee | CC – community | EC – editor | CEC – chief editor | : Report abuse
  • RC1: 'Comment on ar-2024-21', Zongbo Shi, 08 Sep 2024
  • RC2: 'Comment on ar-2024-21', Anonymous Referee #2, 14 Oct 2024
  • AC1: 'Response to RC1', Morgane Perron, 06 Nov 2024
  • AC2: 'Response to RC2', Morgane Perron, 06 Nov 2024

Status: closed

Comment types: AC – author | RC – referee | CC – community | EC – editor | CEC – chief editor | : Report abuse
  • RC1: 'Comment on ar-2024-21', Zongbo Shi, 08 Sep 2024
  • RC2: 'Comment on ar-2024-21', Anonymous Referee #2, 14 Oct 2024
  • AC1: 'Response to RC1', Morgane Perron, 06 Nov 2024
  • AC2: 'Response to RC2', Morgane Perron, 06 Nov 2024
Claudia Hird, Morgane M. G. Perron, Thomas M. Holmes, Scott Meyerink, Christopher Nielsen, Ashley T. Townsend, Patrice de Caritat, Michal Strzelec, and Andrew R. Bowie
Claudia Hird, Morgane M. G. Perron, Thomas M. Holmes, Scott Meyerink, Christopher Nielsen, Ashley T. Townsend, Patrice de Caritat, Michal Strzelec, and Andrew R. Bowie

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Short summary
Dust deposition flux was investigated in lutruwita/Tasmania, Australia, between 2016 and 2021. Results show that the use of direct measurement of aluminium, iron, thorium and titanium in aerosols to estimate average dust deposition fluxes limits biases associated with using single elements. Observations of dust deposition fluxes in the Southern Hemisphere are critical to validate model outputs and better understand the seasonal and interannual impacts of dust deposition on biogeochemical cycles.
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