סמינר מחלקתי: Effect of atmospheric processes on the bioavailability of Phosphorus supplied by dust to the surface ocean

הסמינר השבועי של בית הספר ללימודי הסביבה ע"ש פורטר

יום שני, 4 בדצמבר, שעה 15:00-16:00

בניין הקפסולה, אודיטוריום (קומה 1-)

Effect of atmospheric processes on the bioavailability of Phosphorus supplied by dust to the surface ocean. 
How globally important is this process?

פרופ' מיכאל דוד קרום

School of Earth and Environment, University of Leeds, Leeds UK
Department of Marine Biology, Charney School of Marine Sciences, Haifa University
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 Phosphorus is a key nutrient which controls or increases primary productivity and hence carbon uptake across most of the global ocean. Away from the coastlines, the major source of additional productivity is from atmospheric supply. While all of the N supplied is immediately bioavailable, most of P (and Fe) are supplied with dust and drops through the photic zone without interacting with phytoplankton. In this study we examine acidic atmospheric processes which involve clouds and change the form of P (and Fe) to soluble and hence bioavailable forms. We determine the exact mechanism for this acid interaction and develop a simple equation relating the amount of acid in clouds with the amount of soluble P formed. Finally we use a Global Climate Model to look at where and how this previously unknown mechanism is important in increasing productivity and carbon uptake.