Patagonia's eolian particle flux to the SW Atlantic. A preliminary assessment

BIDART S; DEPETRIS PJ; MEISTER C; PICCOLO MC; HALLER MJ; PROBST JL; PASQUINI AI

Puerto Madryn

Conferencia; Coastal Interactions during Sea-Level Highstands, Patagonia 2000 - International Conference; 2000

UN Córdoba

The atmosphere is a significant pathway to transfer biological and mineral materials from continents to oceans. The dimension of these wind-borne fluxes is still insufficiently known. There is evidence, however, that some could be large enough to exert an important impact on biological and chemical processes in the oceans (e.g., Ittekkot et al., 1996). The removal of atmospheric CO2 through de so-called "biological pump" could be, for example, a significant mechanism to transfer carbon to the deep ocean (Ittekkot, 1993). Patagonia has been identified as a significant source of windblown dust deposited in Antarctica (Basile et al., 1997). Hence, a major drive in this study has been to assess fluxes and collect material for further mineralogical, biological, and geochemical analyses. In this contribution, we report preliminary dust fallout results in the continent-ocean interface, along a portion of the Atlantic Patagonian coastline.2 through de so-called "biological pump" could be, for example, a significant mechanism to transfer carbon to the deep ocean (Ittekkot, 1993). Patagonia has been identified as a significant source of windblown dust deposited in Antarctica (Basile et al., 1997). Hence, a major drive in this study has been to assess fluxes and collect material for further mineralogical, biological, and geochemical analyses. In this contribution, we report preliminary dust fallout results in the continent-ocean interface, along a portion of the Atlantic Patagonian coastline.