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Return of naturally sourced Pb to Atlantic surface waters

Author

Listed:
  • Luke Bridgestock

    (Imperial College London
    Present address: Department of Earth Sciences, University of Oxford, Oxford OX1 3AN, UK)

  • Tina van de Flierdt

    (Imperial College London)

  • Mark Rehkämper

    (Imperial College London)

  • Maxence Paul

    (Imperial College London)

  • Rob Middag

    (NIWA/University of Otago Research Centre for Oceanography
    University of California Santa Cruz)

  • Angela Milne

    (School of Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Plymouth)

  • Maeve C. Lohan

    (Ocean and Earth Sciences, National Oceanography Centre Southampton, University of Southampton)

  • Alex R. Baker

    (School of Environmental Sciences, University of East Anglia)

  • Rosie Chance

    (School of Environmental Sciences, University of East Anglia
    Present address: Wolfson Atmospheric Chemistry Laboratory, Department of Chemistry, University of York, York YO10 5DD, UK)

  • Roulin Khondoker

    (Imperial College London)

  • Stanislav Strekopytov

    (Image and Analysis Centre, Natural History Museum)

  • Emma Humphreys-Williams

    (Image and Analysis Centre, Natural History Museum)

  • Eric P. Achterberg

    (Geomar-Helmholtz Centre for Ocean Research)

  • Micha J. A. Rijkenberg

    (NIOZ Royal Netherlands Institute for Sea Research, and Utrecht University)

  • Loes J. A. Gerringa

    (NIOZ Royal Netherlands Institute for Sea Research, and Utrecht University)

  • Hein J. W. de Baar

    (NIOZ Royal Netherlands Institute for Sea Research, and Utrecht University)

Abstract

Anthropogenic emissions completely overwhelmed natural marine lead (Pb) sources during the past century, predominantly due to leaded petrol usage. Here, based on Pb isotope measurements, we reassess the importance of natural and anthropogenic Pb sources to the tropical North Atlantic following the nearly complete global cessation of leaded petrol use. Significant proportions of up to 30–50% of natural Pb, derived from mineral dust, are observed in Atlantic surface waters, reflecting the success of the global effort to reduce anthropogenic Pb emissions. The observation of mineral dust derived Pb in surface waters is governed by the elevated atmospheric mineral dust concentration of the North African dust plume and the dominance of dry deposition for the atmospheric aerosol flux to surface waters. Given these specific regional conditions, emissions from anthropogenic activities will remain the dominant global marine Pb source, even in the absence of leaded petrol combustion.

Suggested Citation

  • Luke Bridgestock & Tina van de Flierdt & Mark Rehkämper & Maxence Paul & Rob Middag & Angela Milne & Maeve C. Lohan & Alex R. Baker & Rosie Chance & Roulin Khondoker & Stanislav Strekopytov & Emma Hum, 2016. "Return of naturally sourced Pb to Atlantic surface waters," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 7(1), pages 1-12, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:7:y:2016:i:1:d:10.1038_ncomms12921
    DOI: 10.1038/ncomms12921
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