Trace metals are the focus of marine biogeochemical studies. Atmospheric deposition serves as an important source of marine metallic elements and has a non-negligible impact on marine ecology. The sources of atmospheric aerosols are categorized into natural and anthropogenic sources, differing significantly in flux, composition, and properties. Anthropogenic sources can be subdivided into land-based sources and marine-based sources (shipping). With the prosperous development of shipping, the contribution of ships to metal emissions and deposition cannot be ignored. Trace metals are the focus of marine biogeochemical studies. Atmospheric deposition serves as an important source of marine metallic elements and has a non-negligible impact on marine ecology. The sources of atmospheric aerosols are categorized into natural and anthropogenic sources, differing significantly in flux, composition, and properties. Anthropogenic sources can be subdivided into land-based sources and marine-based sources (shipping). With the prosperous development of shipping, the contribution of ships to metal emissions and deposition cannot be ignored. Trace metals are the focus of marine biogeochemical studies. Atmospheric deposition serves as an important source of marine metallic elements and has a non-negligible impact on marine ecology. The sources of atmospheric aerosols are categorized into natural and anthropogenic sources, differing significantly in flux, composition, and properties. Anthropogenic sources can be subdivided into land-based sources and marine-based sources (shipping). With the prosperous development of shipping, the contribution of ships to metal emissions and deposition cannot be ignored.

Our study established a monthly emissions inventory of 11 metals (Fe, Al, V, Ni, Zn, Cu, Pb, As, Cd, Cr, Mn) for East Asia (0-55°N, 85-150°E) in 2017, including contributions from land anthropogenic, ship, and dust sources. The aim was to provide gridded data of atmospheric metal concentrations, dry and wet deposition fluxes, and soluble metal deposition fluxes in the East Asian seas by the modified Community Multiscale Air Quality (CMAQ) model. The study investigated the spatiotemporal distribution characteristics of these parameters, revealing the contributions from different sources of atmospheric metals and the dominant sources of marine deposition, as well as their synergistic patterns. Additionally, in conjunction with atmospheric nitrogen deposition, the study explored the correlation between metal and nitrogen deposition and the potential nitrogen and carbon fixation.