U.S.-France Cooperative Research: Processes Governing Air-Sea Transfer and Oceanic Cycling of Atmospheric Trace Elements

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This two-year award supports U.S.-France cooperative research in atmospheric chemistry between Thomas M. Church of the University of Delaware and Alain Veron of the University of Aix-Marseille III. The collaboration focuses on a problem of common concern; that is, the delivery of atmospheric pollution from both North American and the European continents to the North Atlantic Ocean. The investigators will study the processes governing air-sea transfer and oceanic cycling of atmospheric trace elements. Sampling will occur on two joint international cruises for aerosol, precipitation, fog and sea water samples. The samples will be then be analyzed for trace metals, stable isotopes and radionuclides which are identifiers of continental sources and atmospheric transports to the sea. These atmospheric elements and their isotopes are useful for tracing oceanic circulation and biogeochemical cycling. The U.S. side will prepare and organize the ocean going sampling equipment. The atmospheric and oceanic samples will be analyzed jointly in a newly established French clean laboratory and at existing U.S. laboratories in Delaware and California. The U.S. investigator brings to this collaboration expertise in analysis of stable elements and radionuclide isotopes. This is complemented by unique atmospheric trace elements developed by the French investigator. The results will advance our knowledge of continental origins of air pollutants and their deposition in the North Atlantic Ocean.