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Abstract: Coastal waters in the northern Gulf of Alaska (GoA) are considered iron-rich and nitrate-poor, in contrast to the iron-poor, high-nitrate, low chlorophyll (HNLC) waters of the central GoA. The degree of mixing between these two regimes, enhanced by mesoscale eddies, is essential to the high productivity observed in the region. As part of a study on iron delivery to the central GoA via mesoscale eddies, extensive work was focused on characterizing the coastal endmember, the Alaska Coastal Current. In surface Alaskan coastal waters between Yakutat and the Kenai Peninsula, dissolved iron concentrations ranged from 0.5 to 4.1nM with an average of ∼2nM. In contrast, leachable particulate iron concentrations were much higher and more variable, ranging from over 1μM in the Alsek River plume to less than 5nM at the base of Cook Inlet. Cross-shelf transport of both surface and subsurface dissolved iron and leachable particulate iron was observed. Throughout the study area, leachable particulate iron values were at least an order of magnitude higher than dissolved values, suggesting that the system''s ability to solubilize this large concentration of leachable particulate iron is overwhelmed by the massive input of glacial-derived particulate iron. Nevertheless, suspended leachable particulate iron remains available for exchange to the dissolved phase and is suggested to maintain a relatively constant (∼2nM) source of dissolved iron in the coastal GoA. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

In the northern Gulf of Alaska, mesoscale, anticyclonic eddies have been implicated as a mechanism of the cross-shelf exchange of iron (Fe)-replete coastal waters with Fe-deplete subarctic Alaskan gyre waters. Based on existing hydrography and macronutrient distributions, a Sitka eddy sampled during August 2007 is divided into a surface eddy core, a shallow subsurface eddy core, and a deeper subsurface eddy core. The distributions of aluminum (Al), manganese (Mn), and Fe in the eddy are examined and compared to distributions at shelf stations similar to where the eddy formed as well as basin stations representative of the Fe-limited subarctic Alaskan gyre. Relative to basin stations, dissolved and particulate Al and dissolved Mn were elevated in eddy core waters. Reactive Fe concentrations within the shallow subsurface eddy core were nearly seven times greater than reactive Fe concentrations at similar densities at the basin stations. This shallow subsurface eddy core is likely mixed into the euphotic zone during storm-induced mixing as well as mixing during isopycnal relaxation as an eddy dies out. The flux of reactive Fe to surface waters from the shallow subsurface core of eddies in the Gulf of Alaska is a significant source compared to both remote and local atmospheric dust deposition. It is hypothesized that Fe supply from eddies in the eastern Gulf of Alaska shifts the core of the high-nutrient, lower-than-expected chlorophyll water farther west in conjunction with an "eddy desert" in that same region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Mesoscale anticyclonic eddies in the Gulf of Alaska are an important mechanism for cross-shelf exchange of high iron, low nitrate coastal waters and low iron, high nitrate offshore waters. A Kenai eddy was sampled in September 2007, 8 months after formation. The subsurface eddy core layer contained reactive iron concentrations more than eight times greater than waters at the same depths outside the eddy. The subsurface core of the Kenai eddy (25.4≤σ θ ≤25.8) is suggested to be seasonally important as these waters can be brought to the surface with storm events and deep winter mixing. The deeper core layer (25.8≤σ θ ≤27.0) is suggested to be a source of iron to HNLC waters on a longer timescale, due to isopycnal mixing and eventual eddy relaxation. The subsurface and deeper core layers are important reservoirs of iron that can promote and sustain primary productivity over the lifetime of the Kenai eddy. In addition, dissolved and leachable particulate manganese are shown to be excellent tracers of eddy surface and subsurface waters, respectively. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]