Saharan Dust Boosts Ocean Life Across the Atlantic

New research reveals that iron from Saharan dust becomes more bioreactive as it travels, enhancing marine ecosystems far from its source.

Saharan dust plumes, visible from satellites, are crucial for supplying iron to marine life across the Atlantic Ocean.
The iron in the dust becomes more bioreactive the further it travels, making it more accessible for organisms like phytoplankton.
Researchers analyzed drill core samples from the Atlantic seafloor, comparing iron levels based on distance from the Sahara-Sahel Dust Corridor.
Findings show that bioreactive iron levels are lower near the Americas, indicating its uptake by marine organisms before reaching the seafloor.
This phenomenon has significant implications for understanding marine ecosystem productivity and carbon cycle predictions.