Fig. 4: Schematic diagram for the onset of phosphatization events on seamounts.
From: Episodic intensification of marine phosphorus burial over the last 80 million years
a In the mixing zone between the oxygen minimum zone (OMZ) and oxygen-rich bottom water, Fe–Mn oxides precipitate under oxic conditions to form unphosphatized Fe–Mn crusts. b During periods of cooling, enhanced circulation/upwelling and eolian inputs lead to strengthened primary productivity, providing increased organic matter-bound phosphorus (OM-P) and a downward expansion of the OMZ, which promotes phosphatization events on seamounts. c During warming, seamount upwelling from ocean circulation and recycling of P from the suboxic-anoxic seafloor promotes enhanced primary productivity, contributing to the expansion of the OMZ and the development of seamount phosphatization events.
