Hydrothermal Contributions to Elevated Dissolved Organic Carbon Concentrations and Cycling Along the Mid-Atlantic Ridge

Tuerena, RE, Mahaffey, C ORCID: 0000-0002-4215-7271, Vic, C, Lough, AJM, Davis, CE, Lohan, M, Tagliabue, A, Mather, R and Sharples, J ORCID: 0000-0002-7031-3593 (2026) Hydrothermal Contributions to Elevated Dissolved Organic Carbon Concentrations and Cycling Along the Mid-Atlantic Ridge GEOPHYSICAL RESEARCH LETTERS, 53 (16). ISSN 0094-8276, 1944-8007

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Abstract

Hydrothermal systems along the Mid-Atlantic Ridge (MAR) are spatially variable sources of dissolved organic carbon (DOC) to the deep ocean, with implications for carbon cycling and trace-metal transport. We present DOC measurements from four research cruises focusing on major vent fields at Menez Gwen, Rainbow, Lost City, Broken Spur and TAG (25–40°N). Distinct DOC patterns were observed across sites. At Rainbow and Menez Gwen, DOC maxima (>1,000 μM) were decoupled from Fe and ³He plumes, indicating diffuse DOC sources and potential chemosynthetic production. In contrast, CTD casts intercepting buoyant plumes at TAG and Rainbow showed elevated DOC (90–140 μM) coincident with Fe and ³He, consistent with direct hydrothermal inputs and possible Fe–ligand complexation. No DOC enrichment was detected at Broken Spur. These results demonstrate that hydrothermal vents have highly variable magnitudes and sources of DOC, leading to spatially heterogeneous impacts on deep-ocean carbon cycling and metal-organic interactions.

Item Type:	Article
Uncontrolled Keywords:	carbon, dissolved organic carbon, hydrothermal, mixing, iron, fluxes
Divisions:	Faculty of Science & Engineering Faculty of Science & Engineering > School of Environmental Sciences Faculty of Science & Engineering > School of Environmental Sciences > Earth, Ocean and Ecological Sciences
Depositing User:	Symplectic Admin
Date Deposited:	24 Aug 2026 10:02
Last Modified:	15 Sep 2026 21:06
DOI:	10.1029/2026GL123719
Related Websites:	Author Publisher
URI:	https://livrepository.liverpool.ac.uk/id/eprint/3200081
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