Migration and role of zinc in biogeochemical cycles in the Antarctic Ice Sheet and the Southern Ocean

Zinc (Zn), a widespread metal in the Earth’s crust, serves as a crucial nutrient in the Southern Ocean’s primary production. Studies on Zn in Antarctic snow and ice offer insights into the origins of this metal and its transport routes, as well as its impact on the biogeochemical processes within the Antarctic atmosphere–land–ocean system. This review examines research on the spatial and temporal distribution of Zn in Antarctic snow and ice, as well as in Southern Ocean waters. It includes an overview of advanced methods for sampling and analyzing Zn, along with explanations for the observed variations. The review also discusses various sources of Zn as a nutrient to the Southern Ocean. Finally, it addresses prospective issues related to the use of Zn isotopes in identifying atmospheric sources and their biogeochemical effects on the development of the Southern Ocean ecosystem.