Abstract
The atmospheric input is established for almost forty trace and major elements at a coastal site on the North-Western Mediterranean. Comparison with the Rhône River input at the scale of the Gulf of Lions shows that the total atmospheric input dominates for elements of anthropogenic origin such as Cd, Pb, Sb and Zn. Dissolved input of atmospheric origin is very important for these elements and for those of terrigenous origin (Al and Fe). In the coastal zone, both dissolved external sources (atmosphere and Rhône River) can explain the high Mediterranean Surface waters concentrations. Atmospheric input becomes rapidly the predominant factor, while the riverine influence being negligible in the few tens' kilometers outside the river mouth.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Aloïsi J.C, (1986), ‘Sur un modèle de sédimentation deltaïque: contribution à la connaissance des marges passives’, Thèse d'Etat, University of Perpignan, 162 pp.
Badie C., Baron Y., Fernandez J.M. and Fernex F., (1984), ‘Une technique d'estimation du taux de sédimentation dans le prodelta du Rhône’, 29ème congrès, Assemblée Plénière C.I.E.S.M, Lucerne, 15–20 Oct. 1984.
Bergametti G., (1987), ‘Apports de matière par voie atmosphérique à la Méditerranée Occidentale: aspects géochimiques et météorologiques’, Ph.D. Thesis, Univ. of Paris 7, 296pp.
Boyle E.A, Chapnick S.D, Bai X.X and Spivack A., (1985), ‘Trace metal enrichment in the Mediterranean sea’, Earth Pl. Sci. letters, 74, 405–419.
Bruland K.W and Franks R.P, (1983), ‘Mn, Ni, Cu, Zn and Cd in the western North Atlantic’, in Wong C.S et al. Eds, Trace metals in sea water, Nato Series, Plenum Press, New-York, 395–414.
Brun-Cottan J.C., (1986), ‘Vertical transport of particles within the ocean’, in P. Buat-Ménard Ed, The role of Air-Sea Exchange in Geochemical Cycling, D. Reidel Publishing Company, 83–111.
Carrio C., (1988), ‘Contribution à l'étude dynamo-sédimentaire du delta rhodanien et du processus d'émersion de la plaine deltaïque associée. (Exemple du Domaine de la Palissade, Camargue, France)’, Ph.D. Thesis, University of Aix-Marseille I, 367 pp.
Chamley H., (1968), ‘La sédimentation argileuse actuelle en Méditerranée Nord-Occidentale. Données préliminaires sur la diagénèse dans le delta du Rhône’, Bull. Soc. Geol. France, 7, 75–88.
Chester R., Nimmo M., Murphy K.J.T. and Nicolas E., (1991), Atmospheric trace metals transported to the western Mediterranean: Data from a station on Cap Ferrat. Water Poll. Res. Rept.20, 597–612. Commission of the European Communities. Martin J.M., Barth H. (Eds.),
Chou L. and Wollast R., (1989), ‘Distribution and geochemistry of aluminium in the Mediterranean Sea’. Water Poll. Res. Rept. 13, 232–241. Commission of the European Communities. Marin J.M & Barth H. (Eds.).
Chou L. and Wollast R., (1991), ‘Dissolved Aluminium in the Rhône River Plume and the Gulf of Lions’. Water Poll. Res. Rept. 20, 348–360. Commission of the European Communities. Martin J.M., Barth H. (Eds.).
Copin-Montégut G., Coureau P. and Nicolas E., (1986), ‘Distribution and transfer of trace element in the Western Mediterranean’, Mar. Chem., 18, 189–195.
Duce R.A., Liss P.S., Merill J.T., Atlas E.L., Buat Ménard P., Hicks B.B., Miller J.M., Prospero J.M., Arimoto R., Church T.M., Ellis W., Galloway J.N., Hansen L., Jickells T.D., Knap A.H., Reinhardt K.H., Schneider B., Soudine A., Tokos J.J., Tsunogai S., Wollast R. and Zhou M. (1991). The atmospheric input of trace species to the world ocean. Global Biogéochemical Cycles, Vol. 5, 3, 193–259.
Dulac F., Buat-Ménard P., Arnold M. and Ezat U., (1987), ‘Atmospheric input of trace metals to the Western Mediterranean Sea: 1. Factors controlling the variability of atmospheric concentrations’, J. Geophys. Res., vol. 92, n°D7, 8437–8453.
Elbaz-Poulichet F., Guan D.M., Seyler P., Martin J.M., Morley N.H., Statham P.J., Burton J.D., Mart L. and Klahre P., (1989), ‘Dissolved trace metals and metalloids in the Rhône river/estuarine system’. Water Poll. Res. Rept. n°13 395–422. Commission of the European Communities. Martin J.M. & Barth H. (Eds.).
Fernandez J.M, (1984), ‘Utilisation de quelques éléments métalliques pour la reconstitution des mécanismes sédimentaires en Méditerranée occidentale: apports du traitement statistique’, Thèse de l'Université de Perpignan, 233 pp.
GESAMP working group, (1989), ‘Atmospheric input of trace species to the world ocean’, Report n°14. GESAMP XIX /4. UNESCO., Athens, 85 pp.
Guan D.M., (1991), ‘Eléments traces dissous en milieu fluviatile, estuarien et marin: distribution, spéciation et biochimie’, Thèse de l'Université de Paris VI, 185 pp.
Guieu C., Martin J.M., Thomas A.J. and Elbaz-Poulichet F., (1991), ‘Atmospheric versus river input of metals to the Gulf of Lions: total concentrations, partitioning and fluxes’, Mar. Poll. Bull., 22, 4, 176–183.
Guieu C., (1991), ‘Apports atmosphériques à la Méditerranée Nord-Occidentale’, Thèse de Doctorat, Université Pierre et Marie Curie, 216 pp.
Gordon R.M, Martin J. Hand Knauer G.A, (1982), ‘Iron in the North-East Pacific waters’, Nature, 299, 611–612.
Heurteaux P., (1975), ‘Bref aperçu de l'histoire géologique de la Camargue pendant l'ère quaternaire’, Courrier de la Nature, 35, 5–17.
Hydes D.J., De Lange G.J. and De Barr H.J.W, (1988), ‘Dissolved aluminium in the Mediterranean’, Geochim. Cosmochim. Acta, 52, 2107–2114.
Jickells T.D and Burton J.D, (1988), ‘Cobalt, Copper, Manganese and Nickel in the Sargasso Sea.’, Mar. Chem., 23, 131–144.
Kremling K. and Petersen H., (1981), ‘The distribution of zinc, cadmium, copper, manganese and iron in waters of the open Mediterranean Sea’, “Meteor” Forschungsergebnisse, 23, 5–14.
Landsberger S., (1986), ‘Spectral interferences from uranium fission in neutron activation analysis’, Chem. Geology, 57, 415–421.
Laumond F., Copin-Montegut G., Courau P. and Nicolas E., (1984), ‘Cadmium, copper and lead in the Western Mediterranean’, Mar. Chem., 15, 251–261.
Loÿe-Pilot M.D., Martin J.M. and Morelli J., (1989), ‘Atmospheric input of particulate matter and inorganic nitrogen to the North-Western Mediterranean’. Water Poll. Res. Rept. 13, 368–376, Commission of the European Communities. Martin J.M., Barth H. (Eds.).
Maring H. Band Duce R.A, (1987), ‘The impact of atmospheric aerosols on trace metal chemistry in the open ocean surface seawater, 1. Aluminium’, Earth Pl. Sci. Letters, 84, 381–392.
Martin J.M. and Meybeck M., (1976), ‘The content of major elements in the dissolved and particulate load of rivers’, in: Biogeochemistry of estuarine sediments, Proceedings of a UNESCO/SCOR workshop held in Melreux, Belgium, UNESCO Press, Paris, 95–110.
Martin J.M., Salvadori F. and Thomas A.J., (1978), ‘Le mercure et les oligoéléments dans le delta du Rhône’, IVème journées études Pollutions, Antalya, CIESM, 197–202.
Martin J.M., Elbaz-Poulichet F., Guieu C., Loÿe-Pilot M.D and Gengchen H., (1989), ‘River versus atmospheric input of material to the Mediterranean sea: an overview’, Mar. Chem., 28, 159–182.
Martin J.M. and Thomas A.J, (1990), ‘Origins, concentrations and distribution of artificial radionuclides discharged by the Rhône river to the Mediterranean Sea’, J. Environ. Radioactivity, 11, 105–139.
Martin J.M. and Windom H.L., (1991), ‘Present and future role of ocean margins in regulating marine biogeochemical cycles of trace elements’, in Mantoura R.F.C, Martin J.M. and Wollast R., (Eds.), Ocean margin processes in global change, Dahlem konferenzen. 1991. John Wiley & Sons Ltd., pp 45–67.
Migon C., (1988), ‘Etude de l'apport atmosphérique en métaux traces et sels nutritifs en milieu côtier Méditerranéen; implications biogéochimiques’, Thèse de Doctorat de l'Université de Nice, 217 pp.
Migon C., Morelli J., Nicolas E. and Copin-Montégut G., (1991), ‘Evaluation of total atmospheric deposition of Pb, Cd, Cu and Zn to the Ligurian Sea’, Sc. of the Tot. Env., 105, 135–148.
Monaco A., Courp T., Carbonne J., Fowler S.W and Deniaux B., (1990), ‘Seasonality and composition of particulate fluxes during Ecomarge-1 in the Western Gulf of Lions’, Cont. Shelf Res., 10, 9–11, 959–988.
Morley N.H, Burton J.D and Statham P.J, (1991), ‘Dissolved trace metals in the Gulf of Lions’, Water Poll. Res. Rept. 20, 309–328, Commission of the European Communities. Martin J.M. & Barth H. (Eds.).
Orians K.J and Bruland K.W, (1985), ‘Dissolved aluminium in the central Pacific’, Nature, 316, 427–429.
Remoudaki E., Bergametti G. and Buat-Ménard P., (1991), ‘Temporal variability of atmospheric lead concentration and fluxes over the Mediterranean Sea’, J. Geophys. Res., 96, D1, 1043–1055.
Savey P. and Deléglise R., (1967), ‘Les incidences de l'aménagement du tiers central du Bas-Rhône sur les transports solides en suspension’, Ass. Int. Hydrol. Scient. Publ., 75, 462–476
Shaule B.K and Patterson C.C, (1981), ‘Lead concentrations in the Northeast Pacific: evidence for global anthropogenic perturbations’, Earth Pl. Sci. Letters, 54, 97–116.
Shaule B.K and Patterson C.C, (1983), ‘Perturbations of the natural lead depth profile in the Sargasso sea by industrial lead’, in Trace metals in sea water, Wong C.S. et al. (Eds), Nato Series, Plenum Press, New-York, 487–503.
Sherrell R. Mand Boyle E.A, (1988), ‘Zinc, chromium, vanadium and iron in the Mediterranean sea’, Deep-Sea Research, 35, 8, 1319–1334.
Spivack A.J, Huested S.S and Boyle E.A, (1983), ‘Copper, nickel and cadmium in the surface waters of the Mediterranean’, in Trace metals in sea water, Wong C.S. et al. (Eds), Nato Series, Plenum Press, New-York, 505–512.
Statham P.J, Burton J.D and Hydes D.J, (1985), ‘Cd and Mn in the Alboran Sea and adjacent North Atlantic: geochemical implications for the Mediterranean’, Nature, 313, 565–566.
Thomas A.J., Guieu C. and Martin J.M., ‘Comment on “Rare earth elements in the Mediterranean Sea and mixing in the Mediterranean outflow” by H.J. Greaves, M. Rudrick and H. Elderfield’, submitted to Earth Pl. Sci. Letters.
UNEP/ECE/UNIDO/FAO/UNESCO/WHO/IAEA, (1984), Pollutants from land-based sources in the Mediterranean, Regional Seas Reports and Studies, N°32.
Young R.W, Carder K.L, Betzer P.R, Costello D.R, Duce R.A, DiTullio G.R, Tindale N.W, Laws E.A, Uematsu M., Merrill J.T. and Feely R.A, (1991), ‘Atmospheric iron inputs and primary productivity: phytoplankton responses in the North Pacific’, Global Biogeochemical Cycles, 5, 2, 119–134.
Zhang H. and Wollast R., (1991), ‘Distribution of dissolved Co and Ni in the Gulf of Lions’, Water Poll. Res. Rept. 20, 397–414, Commission of the European Communities. Martin J.M., Barth H. (Eds.).
Zhuang G., Duce R.A. and Kester D.R., (1990), ‘The dissolution of atmospheric iron in surface sea water of the open ocean’, J. Geophys. Res, 95, 16, 207–215
Zuo Z., Eisma D. and Berger G.W., (1991), ‘Recent sediment accumulation in the Gulf of Lions, The Mediterranean Sea’, Oceanologica Acta, 14, 3, 253–262.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Additional information
Paper submitted to the 7th International Symposium of the Commission for Atmospheric Chemistry and Global Pollution on the Chemistry of the Global Atmosphere held in Chamrousse, France, from 5 to 11 September 1990.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Guieu, C., Zhang, J., Thomas, A.J. et al. Significance of atmospheric fallout on the upper layer water chemistry of the North-Western Mediterranean. J Atmos Chem 17, 45–60 (1993). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00699113
Received:
Revised:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00699113