Atmospheric input of nitrogen and phosphorus to the Southeast Mediterranean: Sources, fluxes, and possible impact

• DOI: 10.4319/lo.1999.44.7.1683
• Publication Date: 2010-05-31T07:16:26Z
• Authors: Barak Herut; Michael D. Krom; Gang Pan; Robert Mortimer
• Keywords: Deposition; Mediterranean Basin; Mineral dust; Rainwater Harvesting

Estimates of the sources and wet deposition fluxes inorganic nutrients (PO 4 3− , NO 3 − 2 NH + ) have been made using a long‐term atmospheric measurement at three sites along Mediterranean coast Israel. The nutrient composition in rainwater indicated dominant anthropogenic source for continental, natural, anthropogenic, rock/soil PO . calculated dissolved N (IN) P (IP) were 0.28 0.009 g m −2 yr −1 to coastal zone estimated as 0.24 0.008 Southeast (SE) Mediterranean, with possible increasing pattern annual IN fluxes. Concentration total seawater leachable IP (LIP) from dust was examined on 20 Whatman 41 filters collected during 1996. mean concentration 0.13 ± 0.11% (geomean = 0.09%), 387 205 μg per leached by seawater. LIP varies between 6 85% (mean 38%) dry IP. Dust desert‐type (Saharan) events exhibited lower solubility (∼25%, median) than air masses European origin (∼45%, median). ratio (wet dry) here 0.2 showed importance SE basin compared inputs into northwestern basin. 0.04 0.01 respectively. Atmospheric bioavailable represent an imbalanced contribution new production 8–20 4–11%, respectively, reinforce unusual N:P ratios (∼27) limitation Mediterranean.