PHOTOCHEMICAL REDUCTION OF IRON(OXY)HYDROXIDES IN THE PRESENCE OF DIMETHYL SULFIDE DERIVED ELECTRON DONORS

摘要

Iron (Fe) is an essential micronutrient necessary for the metabolic processes (e.g., photosynthesis and cellular respiration) of marine phytoplankton. In open-ocean environments, far from continental shelves and upwelling currents, iron availability is limited to the atmospheric deposition of crustal-derived aerosols that have been transported to sea by prevailing winds. In the present study we investigate the effect of dimethyl sulfide (DMS)-derived sulfur containing compounds on the speciation of iron in simulated aerosol particles before deposition into the ocean. DMS is released from phytoplankton when under oxidative stress, such as caused by iron limitation or increased UV radiation, therefore, the mechanism(s) under investigation link phytoplankton and iron availability in a biogeochemical feedback.