Global distribution of atmospheric phosphorus sources, concentrations and deposition rates, and anthropogenic impacts

Natalie Mahowald (1) , Timothy D Jickells (2) , Alex R. Baker (2) , Paulo Artaxo (3) , Claudia R Benitez-Nelson (4) , Gilles Bergametti (5) , Tami Bond (6) , Ying Chen , David Cohen , Barak Herut , Nilgun Kubilay , Rémi Losno (7) , Chao Luo (8) , Willy Maenhaut (9) , Kenneth A Mcgee (10) , Gregory S Okin (11) , Ronald L Siefert (12) , Seigen Tsukuda (13)

1 EAS - Department of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences [Ithaca)
2 UEA - University of East Anglia [Norwich]
3 USP - Universidade de São Paulo = University of São Paulo
4 University of South Carolina [Columbia]
5 LISA (UMR_7583) - Laboratoire Interuniversitaire des Systèmes Atmosphériques
6 UIUC - University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign [Urbana]
7 IPGP - Institut de Physique du Globe de Paris
8 Cornell University [New York]
9 UGENT - Universiteit Gent = Ghent University
10 USGS - United States Geological Survey
11 UCLA - University of California [Los Angeles]
12 US Naval Academy
13 Kyoto University

A worldwide compilation of atmospheric total phosphorus (TP) and phosphate (PO 4) concentration and deposition flux observations are combined with transport model simulations to derive the global distribution of concentrations and deposition fluxes of TP and PO 4. Our results suggest that mineral aerosols are the dominant source of TP on a global scale (82%), with primary biogenic particles (12%) and combustion sources (5%) important in nondusty regions. Globally averaged anthropogenic inputs are estimated to be $5 and 15% for TP and PO 4 , respectively, and may contribute as much as 50% to the deposition over the oligotrophic ocean where productivity may be phosphorus-limited. There is a net loss of TP from many (but not all) land ecosystems and a net gain of TP by the oceans (560 Gg P a À1). More measurements of atmospheric TP and PO 4 will assist in reducing uncertainties in our understanding of the role that atmospheric phosphorus may play in global biogeochemistry.

Domaines: Océan, Atmosphère; Physique Atmosphérique et Océanique [physics.ao-ph]

Natalie Mahowald, Timothy D Jickells, Alex R. Baker, Paulo Artaxo, Claudia R Benitez-Nelson, et al.. Global distribution of atmospheric phosphorus sources, concentrations and deposition rates, and anthropogenic impacts. Global Biogeochemical Cycles, 2008, 22 (4), pp.GB4026. ⟨10.1029/2008GB003240⟩. ⟨hal-02326046⟩