North-south longitudinal distributions of trace elements in SPM in the western North Pacific

Abstract

Trace elements exist in two forms: dissolved in water and adsorbed on particulate matter. Particulate matter adsorbs dissolved trace elements, converts them to the particulate form, and transports trace elements downward. During the downward-transport process, adsorption of the dissolved forms onto the particles and desorption from the particles also occur. Therefore, in order to truly understand element cycling, it is important to study not only the dissolved but also the particulate forms. In this study, samples obtained from the western North Pacific (155 E section) obtained by water sampling and filtration during the KH-22-7 and KH-23-2 cruises of R/V Hakuho-Maru were analyzed. The north-south longitudinal distributions of trace elements (Al, P, Ti, Mn, Fe, Co, Cu, Zn, Mo, Cd, Pb, and Bi) in suspended particulate matter (SPM) obtained by the analysis are reported from this analysis.