Mesoscale Iron Enrichment Experiments 1993–2005: Synthesis and Future Directions

Since the mid-1980s, our understanding of nutrient limitation of oceanic primary production has radically changed. Mesoscale iron addition experiments (FeAXs) have unequivocally shown that iron supply limits production in one-third of the world ocean, where surface macronutrient concentrations are perennially high. The findings of these 12 FeAXs also reveal that iron supply exerts controls on the dynamics of plankton blooms, which in turn affect the biogeochemical cycles of carbon, nitrogen, silicon, and sulfur and ultimately influence the Earth climate system. However, extrapolation of the key results of FeAXs to regional and seasonal scales in some cases is limited because of differing modes of iron supply in FeAXs and in the modern and paleo-oceans. New research directions include quantification of the coupling of oceanic iron and carbon biogeochemistry. The work of John Martin (1, 2) sharplyfocused attention on the role of iron (Fe)in ocean productivity, biogeochemical cycles, and global climate by proposing “that phytoplankton growth in major nutrient-rich waters is limited by iron deficiency ” (2). The candidate mechanism of Martin (1, 2) point