Trifluoroacetate profiles in the Arctic, Atlantic, and Pacific Oceans

A series of depth profiles was collected at 22 sites in the Arctic, North and South Atlantic, and Pacific Oceans to determine spatial patterns for trifluoroacetate (TFA) concentrations in the marine environment and to investigate possible natural sources of TFA. Profiles were also taken over underwater vents in the North and South Pacific and the Mediterranean Sea. At the profile sites, TFA values ranged from <10 ng/L in the Pacific Ocean to greater than 150 ng/L in the Atlantic Ocean. Samples from the Canada Basin of the Arctic Ocean exhibited variable TFA concentrations (60-160 ng/L) down to 700 m. Below this depth, in water having 14C ages exceeding 1000 years, the TFA concentrations were constant (150 ng/L). Water returning to the Atlantic through the Canadian Arctic Archipelago had constant high TFA values. Profiles from the Northern Atlantic exhibited high values at all depths but were more consistent in the Western Atlantic. The northwestern Pacific Ocean surface profile sites exhibited low TFA concentrations in the top 100 m increasing to a maximum of 60 ng/L with depth. Samples from the South Pacific Ocean site had generally low values with a few depths (>800 m) having concentrations of 50 ng/L or more. To determine if underwater vents could contribute to the TFA concentrations in the oceans, profiles were taken over three vents in the Pacific and Mediterranean Oceans. The results suggest that some deep-sea vents may be natural sources of TFA.