Aerosol Deposition in the Ocean: Drivers and Biogeochemical Effects

Aerosol deposition in the ocean is a critical area of research that explores the source-to-sink transport dynamics and impacts of aerosol particles, originating from both natural and anthropogenic sources, on marine ecosystems. These particles, carried by wind across vast distances, deliver essential macronutrients and trace metals to the ocean, influencing marine productivity and biogeochemical cycles. Recent studies have highlighted the dual role of aerosols in fertilizing marine organisms and facilitating the export of carbon-enriched material to deep-sea sediments, both processes crucial for long-term carbon sequestration. However, the ongoing variability in climate and the potential rise in atmospheric dust due to increasing desertification pose new challenges and questions about the extent and mechanisms of these impacts. Despite advancements, significant gaps remain in understanding the biogeochemical effects of aerosol deposition, particularly concerning the solubility and bioavailability of nutrients, the role of pyrogenic aerosols, and the interaction of aerosols with marine organisms across underneath the surface of the ocean.

This research topic aims to deepen the understanding of the drivers and biogeochemical impacts of atmospheric aerosols on marine ecosystems. It seeks to address key questions regarding the processes that enhance nutrient bioavailability during atmospheric transport and after ocean deposition, the timescales of marine community responses to these inputs, and the role of aerosols in carbon export and sequestration. By exploring these areas, the research aims to fill existing knowledge gaps and provide insights into the complex interactions between aerosols and marine biogeochemical cycles.

To gather further insights into the drivers and biogeochemical effects of aerosol deposition in the ocean, we welcome articles addressing, but not limited to, the following themes:

- Processes enhancing the bioavailability of atmospheric nutrients during transport and deposition.
- Timescales of biogeochemical responses by marine communities to atmospheric nutrient input.
- The role of aerosols in facilitating carbon export and sequestration in the deep-sea.
- The impact of natural and anthropogenic aerosols on marine ecosystems across different temporal scales.
- Methodological approaches, including in-situ observations, laboratory experiments, satellite remote sensing, and numerical modeling, to study aerosol-marine interactions.

Keywords: Mineral dust, Pyrogenic dust, Anthropogenic aerosols, Nutrients, Fertilization, Marine Ecosystems, Biogeochemical Cycling, Biomass burning, Wet and Dry Dust Deposition, Ballasting

Important note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.