Atmospheric Fe deposition modes at Bermuda and the adjacent Sargasso Sea

[1] The atmospheric fluxes of Fe and Al were determined from bulk (wet + dry) plus wet only deposition and aerosol samples collected at Bermuda from 1999 to 2001. During the sampling period, dry deposition accounted for majority (>70%) of total Fe deposition estimated by both modeled and measured means. This contrasts the North Pacific, where generally wet dominates dry deposition. This may be caused by the size and proximity of continental dust sources and seasonal patterns of precipitation to the North Atlantic. Comparing time series measurement of wet soluble Fe deposition indicates that the North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO) may impact the deposition mode of Fe in these areas. The dry deposition velocities of Fe-bearing aerosols (DDVFe) were estimated from paired averages of measured dry deposition (bulk-wet fluxes) divided by corresponding aerosol concentrations, and a seasonal trend was observed. During the summer months of 1999, the DDVFe ranged from 0.1 to 0.3 cm s−1; yet, during the fall and winter months, the DDVFe ranged from 2.0 to 6.0 cm s−1. It is hypothesized that with increased humidity and wind speeds at Bermuda during fall and winter, mineral aerosol particles could be internally mixed with sea salt and gaseous S and N pollutants to increase effective particle sizes. Such marine particle aggregation is reported elsewhere and could seasonally increase the apparent dry deposition velocity of mineral aerosols.