Determining the Sources of Aerosols Delivered to the Subtropical North Atlantic Using Stable Isotopes

Authors

• Khloe E. Coffie, University of Tampa
• Zach B. Bunnell, University of South Florida
• Dylan J. Halbeisen, University of South Florida
• Peter N. Sedwick, Old Dominion University
• Tim M. Conway, University of South Florida

Document Type

Poster Session

Publication Date

1-22-2026

Abstract

Atmospheric deposition of aerosols is a source of bioavailable trace metals1.

• Fe - Required by primary producers for photosynthesis and nitrogen fixation in the oceans2.
• Zn- Required for enzymes, carbonic anhydrase & alkaline phosphatase3.
• Cd- Found within phytoplankton, high quantities can become toxic 4.

Stable isotope ratios can be used as a tracer for source attribution.

• Anthropogenic-sourced metals have distinct isotopic composition compared to lithogenic dust sourced metals.
• Lithogenic Saharan dust signatures5 : δ⁵⁶Fe = +0.1‰, δ⁶⁶Zn = +0.3‰, and δ¹¹⁴Cd = +0.0‰.

Aerosols are deposited by two mechanisms1:

• Dry Deposition: The settling of dry aerosols to ground or ocean
• Wet Deposition: The delivery of solubilized aerosols to ground or ocean via rain events.

Rights Information

Terms of use for work posted in Scholar Commons.

Scholar Commons Citation

Coffie, Khloe E.; Bunnell, Zach B.; Halbeisen, Dylan J.; Sedwick, Peter N.; and Conway, Tim M., "Determining the Sources of Aerosols Delivered to the Subtropical North Atlantic Using Stable Isotopes" (2026). Making Waves REU. 22.
https://digitalcommons.usf.edu/making-waves_reu/22