Atmospheric input of anthropogenic phosphorus to the northwest mediterranean under oligotrophic conditions

• Published in: Marine environmental research 2001-12, Vol.52 (5), p.413-426
• Main Authors: Migon, C, Sandroni, V, Béthoux, J.-P
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Aerosols - analysis; Air Movements; Air Pollutants - analysis; Anthropogenic emission sources; Applied sciences; Atmosphere; Chemical oceanography; Earth Sciences; Exact sciences and technology; Humans; Marine; Mediterranean Sea; Natural water pollution; NW Mediterranean; ocean-atmosphere system; Oceanography; Oligotrophic conditions; Phosphorus; Phosphorus - analysis; Pollution; Sciences of the Universe; Seasons; Seawater; Seawaters, estuaries; Soil - analysis; Water treatment and pollution
• ISSN: 0141-1136; 1879-0291
• DOI: 10.1016/S0141-1136(01)00095-2

Phosphorus (P) concentration in the atmospheric aerosol was measured at a northwestern Mediterranean coastal site. Airborne P ranged between 25 and 85 ng m −3 (geometric mean: 51 ng m −3). Due to a significant contribution (about 90%) of anthropogenic land-based source emissions, dry deposition velocities of 0.1–0.5 cm s −1 were used to estimate a dry flux of 0.15–0.7 μmol P m −2 day −1. The theoretical impact of the dry flux on primary production (0.1–0.4 mg C m −2 day −1) is 50–200-fold lower than that of a single significant wet event. The incineration plant of the Nice district is identified as a possible major source of airborne anthropogenic P. As the implementation of waste plants is currently expanding along the western European shores, the importance of the P atmospheric source to the western Mediterranean is likely to increase with time.