Dissolved iron (DFe) concentrations in oxygen minimum zones (OMZs) of Eastern Boundary Upwelling Systems are enhanced as a result of high supply rates from anoxic sediments. However, pronounced variations in DFe concentrations in anoxic coastal waters of the Peruvian OMZ indicate that there are factors in addition to dissolved oxygen concentrations (O2) that control Fe cycling. Our study demonstrates that sediment-derived reduced Fe (Fe(II)) forms the main DFe fraction in the anoxic/euxinic water column off Peru, which is responsible for DFe accumulations of up to 200 nmol L-1. Lowest DFe values were observed in anoxic shelf waters in the presence of nitrate and nitrite. This reflects oxidation of sediment-sourced Fe(II) associated with nitrate/nitrite reduction and subsequent removal as particulate Fe(III) oxyhydroxides. Unexpectedly, the highest DFe levels were observed in waters with elevated concentrations of hydrogen sulfide (up to 4 µmol L-1) and correspondingly depleted nitrate/nitrite concentrations (<0.18 µmol L-1). Under these conditions, Fe removal was reduced through stabilization of Fe(II) as aqueous iron sulfide (FeSaqu) which comprises complexes (e.g., FeSH+) and clusters (e.g., Fe2S2|4H2O). Sulfidic events on the Peruvian shelf consequently enhance Fe availability, and may increase in frequency in future due to projected expansion and intensification of OMZs.

Subsurface seawater samples were collected with 8L Teflon coated GO-FLO samplers that were deployed on the metal free cable of the Meteor. #Sample treatment at sea: #Samples were filtered through 0.2 um polycarbonate filters in a class 5 clean container #After filtration the samples were acidified with HCl (1 mL 6 M into 1L SW), final pH was below 2. #All work was performed under clean air conditions in a Class 5 (Old Class 100) laminar flow hood. #Measurement: #Trace metal concentrations were measured by GF-AAS using the method described in Grasshoff et al. (1999). #Quality Flag: #WOCE Bottle Samples # 0.000 denotes below detection limit (varies by element) # Zn data not blank corrected

Supplement to: Schlosser, Christian; Streu, Peter; Frank, Martin; Lavik, Gaute; Croot, Peter L; Dengler, Marcus; Achterberg, Eric Pieter (2018): H2S events in the Peruvian oxygen minimum zone facilitate enhanced dissolved Fe concentrations. Scientific Reports, 8(1)