Benthic iron data on the Oregon Shelf from samples collected on R/V Oceanus cruise OC2107A during July to August 2021

These data were obtained on two cruises to the Oregon shelf in August and November 2021. They describe the release of dissolved iron (Fe) from the benthic boundary layer and show that a sizeable fraction of this Fe is present as soluble Fe(II). Hypoxia is increasing in strength and duration on the Oregon continental shelf. Intermediate waters of the North Pacific are also experiencing deoxygenation. Lower oxygen (O2) will lead to elevated Fe(II) release and persistence in the water column, increasing the role of the Oregon continental margin as an Fe source. Coastal Oregon and North Pacific Ocean waters are often iron-limited and this increased Fe source could act as a positive feedback to Pacific deoxygenation by increasing primary production and therefore carbon supply to hypoxic intermediate waters. Understanding and simulating continental margin Fe supply will provide helpful information for predicting the condition of the future coastal ocean. Intensive modeling and monitoring already occur for these waters due to their economic significance and an improved understanding of Fe, a critical nutrient in this region, will advance these efforts. Note this version of the dataset includes data only from the August 2021 cruise.