Natural iron fertilisation of oceans around Australia: linking terrestrial dust, marine biogeochemistry and climate

通过控制大气中的二氧化碳，海洋在地球气候中发挥着至关重要的作用。这一系统的一个重要组成部分是铁循环，在这个循环中，富含铁的尘埃通过大气从陆地运往海洋；铁是海洋浮游植物的一种关键微量营养素，其稀缺限制了基本的生物地球化学过程和海洋肥力。该项目将对澳大利亚周围海洋中的微量元素进行海洋和大气综合观测计划。这将提供有关大气尘埃提供的铁对海洋生产力和海洋生态系统健康的关键信息，为预测未来海洋对气候的影响的一个关键因素提供科学依据。

Oceans play a vital role in Earth’s climate through the control of atmospheric carbon dioxide. An important component of this system is the iron cycle, in which iron-rich dust is transported from the land via atmosphere to ocean; iron is a key micronutrient for marine phytoplankton, the scarcity of which limits essential biogeochemical processes and ocean fertility. This project will conduct an integrated oceanographic and atmospheric observational program for trace elements in the oceans around Australia. This will provide the critical information on iron supplied from atmospheric dust for ocean productivity and marine ecosystem health, providing the science for predicting a key factor in the future impact of the oceans on climate.