Distribution of dissolved bioactive trace metals in the Indian Ocean (GEOTRACES JAPAN KH-09-5 cruise)

Abstract

The Indian Ocean is the third largest ocean, playing an important role on global elemental cycling. However, the information on bioactive trace metals in seawater, that are essential and/or potentially highly toxic to organisms, is still very poor. GEOTRACES JAPAN has conducted an ocean section study in the Indian Ocean during the KH-09-5 cruise of R/V Hakuho Maru from November 2009 to January 2010. We have observed the distribution of 9 bioactive trace metals (Al, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, Cd and Pb) during this cruise. Here we report the results on the dissolved species.