Geochemistry of aerosols in the tropical Atlantic: Results from the 35th cruise of the R/V Akademik Mstislav Keldysh

Aerosols were collected by the mesh method in the tropical part of the Atlantic during the 35th cruise of the R/V Akademik Mstislav Keldysh. The particle size and chemical composition (19 elements) of the aerosols were studied. The bulk of aerosols consists of material <2 mu m in size and their chemical composition generally corresponds to continental aluminosilicate material. The chemical composition of the aerosols transported from the coastal and oceanic regions of the North Atlantic is influenced by the anthropogenic factor, which is manifested in the increased contents of C-org and heavy metals. Comparison of the aerosol and elemental fluxes onto the ocean surface with the absolute masses of sediments in the study area indicates that the terrigenous component of the bottom sediments is formed by aerosol transport.