Atmospheric Nutrient Deposition in Marine Ecosystems

Atmospheric deposition constitutes a vital supply route for key nutrients—principally nitrogen and phosphorus—to the open ocean and coastal waters. Both wet deposition (rain, snow and sea fog) and dry deposition (settling of particles and gases) deliver inorganic and organic forms of these elements, thereby influencing phytoplankton growth, nutrient stoichiometry and carbon cycling. Mineral dust, combustion‐derived aerosols and bioaerosols serve as carriers of soluble nutrients, while atmospheric acidic processes enhance the release of bioavailable phosphorus from otherwise refractory mineral phases. Spatially and temporally variable wind patterns, source regions and meteorological conditions govern where and when deposition occurs, with significant implications for productivity hotspots from oligotrophic subtropical gyres to coastal transition zones. Anthropogenic emissions of sulphur and nitrogen oxides not only contribute directly to nutrient loads but also indirectly mobilise phosphorus, linking air‐quality regulation to ocean fertilisation. Emerging research combines field measurements, laboratory experiments and three‐dimensional models to quantify deposition fluxes, elucidate solubilisation mechanisms and assess ecosystem responses under changing climate and emission scenarios.

Research from Nature Portfolio

Recent model‐based investigations have coupled regional chemical transport and lower‐trophic ecosystem models to quantify the influence of East Asian emissions on North Western Pacific productivity. Simulations indicate that atmospheric inputs of inorganic nitrogen species—comprising gaseous ammonia and nitric acid together with particulate ammonium and nitrate—drive a two‐ to threefold local rise in surface chlorophyll concentration and a substantial increase in integrated primary production. These effects are most pronounced in the subtropical domain, where background nutrient levels are low, and manifest seasonally in concert with prevailing monsoonal winds. The work underscores that deposition from continental outflow can rival or exceed in situ nutrient supply, with potential feedbacks on carbon export and marine food webs.

Atmospheric Nutrient Deposition in Marine Ecosystems publication trend

The graph below shows the total number of articles in atmospheric nutrient deposition in marine ecosystems across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).

Technical terms

Aerosols: Suspended solid or liquid particles in the atmosphere that transport nutrients and pollutants.

Dry deposition: Direct transfer of gases and particles from the atmosphere to the surface without precipitation.

Wet deposition: Removal of atmospheric constituents by precipitation, including rain, snow and sea fog.

Bioavailable phosphorus: Fraction of phosphorus that is soluble and accessible for uptake by marine organisms.

Biogeochemical cycling: Movement and transformation of elements through biological, geological and chemical processes in the Earth system.

References

1. Bioavailable atmospheric phosphorous supply to the global ocean: a 3-D global modeling study. Biogeosciences (2016).
2. Atmospheric acidification of mineral aerosols: a source of bioavailable phosphorus for the oceans. Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics (2011).
3. Phosphorus solubility in aerosol particles related to particle sources and atmospheric acidification in Asian continental outflow. Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics (2019).
4. Atmospheric inorganic nitrogen input via dry, wet, and sea fog deposition to the subarctic western North Pacific Ocean. Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics (2013).
5. Seasonal Response of North Western Pacific Marine Ecosystems to Deposition of Atmospheric Inorganic Nitrogen Compounds from East Asia. Scientific Reports (2018).