Manganese in the West Atlantic Ocean in context of the first global ocean circulation model of manganese

TL;DR

This study combines new GEOTRACES manganese measurements with a global circulation model to understand manganese sources, distribution, and removal processes in the ocean, providing new insights into its biogeochemical cycling.

Contribution

It presents the first global-scale circulation model of manganese that accurately reproduces observations and elucidates key sources and processes affecting manganese distribution in the ocean.

Findings

High surface Mn due to photoreduction and sources like dust and sediments.

Limited southward propagation of Mn in Atlantic due to removal rates.

Homogeneous deep ocean Mn concentration around 0.10-0.15 nM.

Abstract

Dissolved manganese (Mn) is a biologically essential element, and its oxidised form is involved in the removal of trace elements from ocean waters. Recently, a large number of highly accurate Mn measurements have been obtained in the Atlantic, Indian and Arctic Oceans as part of the GEOTRACES programme. The goal of this study is to combine these new observations with state-of-the-art modelling to give new insights into the main sources and redistribution of Mn throughout the ocean. To this end, we simulate the distribution of dissolved Mn using a global-scale circulation model. This first model includes simple parameterisations to account, realistically, for the sources, processes and sinks of Mn in the ocean. Whereas oxidation and (photo)reduction, as well as aggregation and settling are parameterised in the model, biological uptake is not yet taken into account by the model. Our model reproduces observations accurately and provides the following insights: - The high surface concentrations of manganese are caused by the combination of photoreduction and sources to the upper ocean. The most important sources are dust, then sediments, and, more locally, rivers. - Results show that surface Mn in the Atlantic Ocean moves downwards into the North Atlantic Deep Water, but because of strong removal rates the Mn does not propagate southwards. - There is a mostly homogeneous background concentration of dissolved Mn of about 0.10 to 0.15 nM throughout most of the deep ocean. The model reproduces this by means of a threshold on manganese oxides of 25 pM, suggesting that a minimal concentration of Mn is needed before aggregation and removal become efficient. - The observed sharp hydrothermal signals are produced by assuming both a high source and a strong removal of Mn near hydrothermal vents.