A review: iron and nutrient supply in the subarctic Pacific and its impact on phytoplankton production

Abstract

One of the most important breakthroughs in oceanography in the last 30 years was the discovery that iron (Fe) controls biological production as a micronutrient, and our understanding of Fe and nutrient biogeochemical dynamics in the ocean has significantly advanced. In this review, we looked back both previous and updated knowledge of the natural Fe supply processes and nutrient dynamics in the subarctic Pacific and its impact on biological production. Although atmospheric dust has been considered to be the most important source of Fe affecting biological production in the subarctic Pacific, other oceanic sources of Fe have been discovered. We propose a coherent explanation for the biological response in subarctic Pacific high nutrient low chlorophyll (HNLC) waters that incorporates knowledge of both the atmospheric Fe supplies and the oceanic Fe supplies. Finally, we extract future directions for Fe oceanographic research in the subarctic Pacific and summarize the uncertain issues identified thus far.