Estimates of atmospheric-processed soluble iron from observations and a global mineral aerosol model: Biogeochemical implications

Desert dust deposition to the ocean may be a significant source of biogeochemically important elements, specifically iron. The bioavailability of iron in the oceans requires it to be in a soluble form, and because atmospheric iron in desert dust is typically insoluble, understanding the atmospheric processes that convert insoluble iron to more soluble forms is essential. Understanding these relationships is especially important in remote ocean regions where iron may be the limiting nutrient. Observations of soluble iron from 2001 cruise‐based aerosol measurements over the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans ranged from 0 to 45% (mean of 4 ± 9%) in the fine mode (