Toward understanding the effects of mineral dust aerosol heterogeneous chemistry: Impacts on ocean bioproductivity

Iron is the fourth most abundant element on Earth’s crust and serves as an important micronutrient for ocean bioproductivity. As bioavailable (soluble) iron is the primary form of iron accessible to phytoplankton, iron dissolution studies to determine the effects of atmospheric processing of mineral dust aerosol on iron bioavailability are being explored. Results of these studies will help us understand the effects of mineralogy, particle size, and atmospheric heterogeneous chemistry on phytoplankton growth and thus CO2 sequestration.