Comment on "The Southern Ocean biological response to aeolian iron deposition".
Cassar et al. (Reports, 24 August 2007, p. 1067) proposed that aerosol-iron input enhances Southern Ocean export production. Their conclusion critically depends upon aerosol-iron modeling simulations not validated with iron-deposition data and dust dissolution rates based on Northern Hemisphere atmospheric chemical conditions (low pH). This diminishes the relevance of their findings and demonstrates that applying such models to this region is premature.
Boyd
Philip W
PW
National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research Centre for Chemical and Physical Oceanography, Department of Chemistry, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand. pboyd@alkali.otago.ac.nz
Mackie
Douglas
D
D001272:Atmosphere; D004391:Dust; D007501:Iron / Q000032:analysis*; D008962:Models, Theoretical; D009792:Oceans and Seas; D010839:Phytoplankton / Q000254:growth & development; D012623:Seawater / Q000737:chemistry; D014919:Wind
D004391:Dust; D007501:Iron