Arsenic, antimony and vanadium in the North Atlantic Ocean

Abstract

New measurements of arsenic, antimony and vanadium in samples from vertical profiles at nine stations between 50° and 70°N in the Atlantic Ocean are presented. Antimonate concentrations exhibit little variation with depth and location, the average concentration being 1.16 nmol 1-1. The vertical distribution of arsenate is similar to that reported for the South Atlantic and Pacific Ocean, with somewhat lower surface concentrations (14 to 18 nmol 1-1) and uniform deep water concentrations (mean, 19 nmol 1-1). Uniform vertical profiles for vanadium with a mean concentration of 32.6 nmol 1-1 are in agreement with data for the Central Atlantic, but differ from profiles in the Pacific which exhibit surface water depletion.