Distribution of particulate trace elements in the Northeastern Atlantic

From 1989 to 1992, five cruises were conducted in an area covering the English Channel, the Celtic Sea and the Gulf of Biscay. During these campaigns, suspended matter was collected by different techniques in order to analyze the spatial and vertical distribution of several particulate trace elements in relation to the global biogeochemical cycle of carbon. It appears that horizontal distribution varies strongly from one element to another and is mainly influenced either by anthropogenic and terrigenous inputs or by scavenging processes. On the other hand, the vertical distribution seems mainly linked to the primary production. In parallel to these trace element measurements, experiments were carried out to estimate the transfer rates of these elements from the dissolved to the particulate phase using radioactive tracers. The results clearly indicate that biological activity plays an important role in these transfers.