Distribution and transfer of trace elements in the Western Mediterranean

• Published in: Marine chemistry 1986, Vol.18 (2), p.189-195
• Main Authors: Copin-Montegut, Gerard, Courau, Philippe, Nicolas, Emmanuel
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Earth sciences; Earth, ocean, space; Exact sciences and technology; Geochemistry; Marine; Mineralogy; Silicates; Water geochemistry
• ISSN: 0304-4203; 1872-7581
• DOI: 10.1016/0304-4203(86)90007-1

Results concerning the concentration of cadmium and lead in Mediterranean waters collected during the 2nd PHYCEMED cruise (Oct. 1983) are discussed. Sampling has been performed at seven stations in the Western Mediterranean Basin, two in the Strait of Gibraltar and the near Atlantic, two in the Sicily Strait and the Eastern Basin. In the Western Basin the observations are in fair agreement with those of PHYCEMED 1. Cadmium has a fairly homogeneous distribution vertically as well as from one station to another, with an average concentration of 8 ng l −1; while lead shows a slight but continuous decrease in concentrations with depth (from at least 50 ng l −1 in surface waters to 20 or 25 ng l −1 at depth). On the other hand, at the basin boundaries, where waters from different origins are present, vertical distributions appear very different. On the basis of calculated water budgets it can be estimated that the Mediterranean Sea discharges about 200 t y −1 of cadmium and about 250 t y −1 of lead into the Atlantic Ocean while 1000 t y −1 of lead are transferred from the Western to the Eastern Basin.