Saharan dust and pollution - effect on Mediterranean ecosystems

What is it about?

Both airborne pollution particles and Saharan dust changes by atmospheric acid may provide a source of nutrients (phosphorous and nitrogen) to the oceans. This process may be particularly important in the Eastern Mediterranean where these nutrients exist in only very low concentrations and this in turn limit the biology that needs these essential nutrients to live and reproduce.

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Why is it important?

Large scale tank experiments were used for this study, where dust or pollution aerosols were added to monitor the biological effect. It was found that pollution aerosols triggered a relatively larger biological change compared to the Saharan dust additions. An implication of the study is that a warmer atmosphere in the future may increase dust storms and transport and thus provide an external source of new nutrients.