From a University of Leeds Press Release
Acidic clouds nourish world’s oceans
Published Friday 2nd October 09
Acidic clouds are feeding bioavailable iron to the oceans – a discovery which sheds light on the natural processes that remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.
Scientists at the University of Leeds have proved that acid in the atmosphere breaks down large particles of iron found in dust into small and extremely soluble iron nanoparticles, which are more readily used by plankton.
This is an important finding because lack of iron can be a limiting factor for plankton growth in the ocean – especially in the southern oceans and parts of the eastern Pacific. Addition of such iron nanoparticles would trigger increased absorption of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.
“This could be a very important discovery because there’s only a very small amount of soluble iron in the ocean and if plankton use the iron nanoparticles formed in clouds then the whole flux of bioavailable iron to the oceans needs to be revised,” says Dr Zongbo Shi, lead author of the research from the School of Earth and Environment at the University of Leeds.
Water droplets in clouds generally form around dust and other particles. When clouds evaporate, as they often do naturally, the surface of the particle can become very acidic. This is especially true where the air is polluted.
Paradoxically, scientists suggest that large scale industry in countries like China could be combating global warming to some extent by creating more bioavailable iron in the oceans, and therefore increasing carbon dioxide removal from the atmosphere.
“Man made pollution adds more acid to the atmosphere and therefore may encourage the formation of more iron nanoparticles,” says Dr Shi.
Scientists carried out the research by simulating clouds in the laboratory to which they added Saharan dust samples. They were then able to mimic natural conditions in order to monitor the chemical processes happening in the system. The laboratory experiments have been confirmed in natural samples where such cloud processing is known to have occurred.
The findings highlight the complexity of the pattern of natural iron delivery to the oceans, throwing new light on recent high profile plans to add iron to the southern oceans artificially to stimulate plankton growth.
“This process is happening in clouds all over the world, but there are particularly interesting consequences for the oceans. What we have uncovered is a previously unknown source of bioavailable iron that is being delivered to the Earth’s surface in precipitation,” says Professor Michael Krom, the principal investigator of the research, also at the University of Leeds.
The research was published in the September issue of Environmental Science and Technology and funded by the Natural Environment Research Council.
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So after the recent huge dust storm over Australia and the Tasman Sea should we expect a sudden bloom in Plankton. Some of the dust made it thousands of km to New Zealand, putting a visible coating onto my car (in the South island).
Rob R (15:22:00) :
Here in the UK we seem to get several events each year where wind rain delivered dust, often attributed to air movement from the Sahara, are distributed across the country.
So presumably there are deposits into water along the way and that may apply to other wind patterns where more water crossing is involved.
My reading of the press releases seems to suggest that it is not just the dust being carried into the oceans that is important – it is the process that occurs in the clouds that breaks down the iron particles into something more useful in bioavailability terms by creating more nano particles. Or at leaast that is the claim.
I would imagine that the hypothesis is quite testable (compared to many hypotheses) up to the point of the effect on CO2 extraction by plankton.
Hold on a moment. Is this good or bad?
If only there was an enviro-bible that could provide me with all the correct responses. Greenpeace, you are falling down on the job. How do I know if something is good or bad without direction from the enviro-sages
Anthony, could this possibly be relevant to this same subject?
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2009/oct/04/arctic-seas-turn-to-acid
The arctic sea’s are turning into acid? I knew that sulfur released by burning coal cause acid rain but CO2 being absorbed by the ocean’s causing acidic seas?
This just is beyond me!
But humans never do anything that helps nature. Seeing how we aren’t part of nature.
I love it! This is SO politically incorrect.
Yet another reason to burn more coal! 😀
Is carbonic acid strong enough to break down the dust particles? If so this could be another feedback mechanism limiting CO2 in the atmosphere.
So, with this startling, yet very cool, discovery, can we start catapulting “Cash For Clunkers” rejects into the stratosphere and shooting them down with SAM’s loaded with sulfuric acid made from coal-fired power plants’ emissions? It’s a “win-win” situation all around. 😉
One of the suspected reasons for red tide blooms in the Gulf of Mexico is dust from the Sahara. Just a side note, we haven’t had any eastern Atlantic hurricanes cross over into the Gulf for a couple of years and we also haven’t had any large red tide blooms either.
Pollution? What pollution, its fertilizer!
For an interesting read on the history of dust and plankton blooms, check out:
http://www.lbl.gov/Science-Articles/Archive/ESD-Gobi-plankton-Bishop.html
“In the spring of 2001, two robotic Carbon Explorer floats [modified Argo floats] recorded the rapid growth of phytoplankton in the upper layers of the North Pacific Ocean after a passing storm had deposited iron-rich dust from the Gobi Desert. The carbon measurements, reported in the October 25 [2001, presumably] issue of Science, are the first direct observation of wind-blown terrestrial dust fertilizing the growth of aquatic plant life.
“Three days before the launch of the Carbon Observers on April 10, a NASA satellite recorded a large dust storm originating near the Gobi Desert in China and Mongolia; on the day of the launch, the dust cloud was over Japan and heading for the North Pacific. It reached Ocean Station PAPA on April 12, where it kicked up the waves and deposited a large amount of dust.
“Although high waves temporarily kept the Carbon Observers from reporting by satellite, data collection continued uninterrupted through the storm. Five days after the storm passed, the floats reported rising concentrations of particulate organic carbon; the concentration almost doubled in the next two weeks.
Great timing on the part of the researchers and nature, eh?
Man Made Air Pollution Helps Iron Deficient Ocean
clicky
So we already know everything about every factor that affects theClimate and the Carbon Cycle ?. This is another piece of the jigsaw that is totally ignored by those fixated (pun intended) on CO2.
It seams man has a symbiotic relationship with the planet.
The plankton bloom has already happened in Sydney harbour:
http://www.smh.com.au/environment/dust-was-blooming-marvellous-for-harbour-20091005-gjfd.html
Now if there were just some way to get more nitrogen into the oceans…
The proof is in the pudding.
When will CO2 levels drop?
We may be putting more into the atmosphere than this will take out.
Oh, and as I recall I said something about this a couple of days ago, let me see if I can recall what I wrote.
I can’t wait to read stories of how the increased levels of CO2 are causing plankton, seaweed, and other life forms in the ocean to explode with growth. It was something like that. Look it up.
You guys are sooooo bad!!!!
Of the responders here – no one has ever indicated a wish for man to “dirty its nest”. You all, in other threads indicate a sensivity to the enviornment. Use it, yes, but don’t abuse it. Where you part company with many is that you wish to use what we have in efficient ways, not as some demented worship of dirt.
Yeah, you don’t fool me, you are closet environmentalists – (THE BEST KIND!)
enjoy all your comments, and thanks Anthony for providing the platform to say them.
Mike Bentley
Tom in Florida (16:11:52) :
If you are thinking someone is out to ‘experiment’ with the oceans by introducing lots of iron seeding to make more plankton, the unintended consequence might be this red tide algae. Toxic.
I was thinking that they are assuming increased plankton is all good news.
How to clean up one problem while at the same time creating an even worse one.
I can’t wait to read stories of how whale populations are increasing due to the elevated levels of CO2 causing plankton levels to rise.
B.C. (16:08:54) :
So, with this startling, yet very cool, discovery, can we start catapulting “Cash For Clunkers” rejects into the stratosphere and shooting them down with SAM’s loaded with sulfuric acid made from coal-fired power plants’ emissions? It’s a “win-win” situation all around. 😉
Hilarious! LOL
Brent in Calgary
It’s also apropos to dredge up this little gem, which casts, shall we say, some doubt on just how much carbon dioxide absorption those ocean critters and critterettes actually do…..
The money quote:
‘If we thought we have understood photosynthesis, this study proves that there is much to be learned about these basic physiological processes.’
Most of the sheeple surveyed, 98% of them, agree man-made global warming and climate change is not an important issue. I would call these people the agreers not deniers. Why do so few people now deny, man does not cause global warming?
rbateman (16:58:54) :
“How to clean up one problem while at the same time creating an even worse one.”
Probably the best response to all of the enviro’s geoengineering proposals. Except they won’t clean up the problem.
Messing with something that ain’t broke is a good way to break it.
Preusumably the nanoiron that didn’t make it out to sea would be fertilizing the land? As for increased ‘pollution’ increasing the amount of phytoplankton, does this mean we no longer need to feel guilty about the need to ‘pump the bilges’ when we are out on the bay? 🙂