Indium and yttrium in North Atlantic and Mediterranean waters: Comparison to the Pacific data

Journal Article · Thu Jul 01 04:00:00 EDT 1999 · Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/S0016-7037(99)00080-0· OSTI ID:687710

Alibo, D S; Nozaki, Yoshiyuki ^[1]; Jeandel, C ^[2]

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1. Univ. of Tokyo (Japan). Marine Inorganic Chemistry Div.
2. LEGOS, Toulouse (France)

Vertical profiles of dissolved indium and yttrium were determined in the eastern North Atlantic and the Mediterranean Sea to compare with those of the North Pacific reported earlier. The Y concentrations in the surface waters are 120 pmol/kg in the North Atlantic and 205 pmol/kg in the Mediterranean Sea, which are significantly higher than 80 pmol/kg in the North Pacific. The difference may be attributable to the different strength of input of Y to the oceans from fluvial and aeolian sources. In contrast, the deep water concentration of Y increases in the order of North Atlantic < Mediterranean < North Pacific. This trend is similar to that of dissolved Si, suggesting that Y is involved in the biogeochemical regeneration cycle. The vertical profiles of In are far more complex than Y. The In profile shows a systematic increase from 0.6 pmol/kg at the surface to 1.7 pmol/kg at 2,100 m in the North Atlantic, whereas it is almost featureless at a mean concentration of 3.8 {+-} 0.6 pmol/kg in the Mediterranean Sea. The North Atlantic and Mediterranean In concentrations are considerably higher than those observed in the North Pacific ({approximately}0.1 pmol/kg), and such a large interoceanic variation has been reported before only for Al and Ga. Like Al, the deep water In concentration that decreases in the order of Mediterranean > North > North Pacific exhibits an inverse trend of Y and nutrients. Indium is highly particle-reactive (47% association in the Mediterranean Sea), and must have a short mean oceanic residence time. However, the featureless dissolved In profile in the Mediterranean Sea is clearly different from the profiles of dissolved Al, showing increase with depth; suggesting that significant fractionation of the two elements is taking place in the ocean.

• OSTI ID: 687710
• Journal Information: Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta, Journal Name: Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta Journal Issue: 13-14 Vol. 63; ISSN GCACAK; ISSN 0016-7037
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
58 GEOSCIENCES
ALUMINIUM
ATLANTIC OCEAN
DEPTH
ECOLOGICAL CONCENTRATION
GEOCHEMISTRY
INDIUM
MEDITERRANEAN SEA
PACIFIC OCEAN
YTTRIUM