Dissolved Iodate and Total Iodine During an Extreme Hypoxic Event in the Southern Benguela System

Dissolved iodate and total iodine were studied in St Helena Bay, South Africa, during a period of acute hypoxia, following upwelling off Cape Columbine. Despite the generally high concentrations of chlorophyll α (10–30 mg m⁻³) total iodine concentration was essentially constant in the main part of the Bay, and similar to that found elsewhere in the oceans. Occasional, lower concentrations of total iodine (0·28 to 0·42 μM) were found with exceptionally high chlorophyll α concentrations (500 mg m⁻³) in shallow waters. In contrast, iodate was found to be reduced to iodide at both the surface and the bottom of the Bay. The implications of these changes are discussed, given that the surface waters reflect sustained eutrophication while the bottom waters are hypoxic as a result of the organic-rich sediment from the waters above.