A transatlantic flight may turn Saharan dust into a key ocean nutrient
Over time, atmospheric chemical reactions can make iron in dust from the Sahara easier for organisms to take in, helping to create biodiversity hot spots.
Citations
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S. Rodríguez et al. African wasteland dust influences migrations and fisheries of the Atlantic skipjack-tuna. Atmospheric Environment. Vol. 312, November 1, 2023, 120022. doi: 10.1016/j.atmosenv.2023.120022.
N. M. Mahowald et al. Aerosol trace metal leaching and impacts on marine microorganisms. Nat Commun. 9, July 5, 2018, 2614. doi: 10.1038/s41467-018-04970-7.
D. R. Muhs et al. Geochemical evidence for African dust inputs to soils of western Atlantic islands: Barbados, the Bahamas, and Florida. J Geophys Res. Vol. 112, April 24, 2007, F02009. doi: 10.1029/2005JF000445.
J. H. Martin et al. Iron deficiency limits phytoplankton growth within the north-east Pacific subarctic. Nature. Vol. 331, January 28, 1988, p. 341. doi: 10.1038/331341a0.
Douglas Fox is a contract journalist based in northern California. He became funded by the National Science Foundation to commute to Antarctica from November 2019 to January 2020.
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