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Iron From Antarctic Rocks Fuels Algae Growth

MTorrice writes "The Southern Ocean around Antarctica is a significant carbon dioxide sink. Phytoplankton in the ocean pull down a large amount of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. Oceanographers have wondered where these photosynthetic microbes get enough iron to fuel this process. A new study (abstract) suggests that iron leached into the sea from rock weathering and bacterial activity on Antarctica may be part of the answer. Climate change could actually accelerate this iron release, leading to larger blooms of phytoplankton and more carbon dioxide uptake by the ocean, the researchers say."

9 of 40 comments (clear)

  1. Mwhahahaha.... by flayzernax · · Score: 4, Interesting

    http://deusex.wikia.com/wiki/Panchaea

    Dystopian Future HO!

    The officially stated purpose of Panchaea is to counter the effects of the global warming. In order to do so, the facility promotes growth of phytoplankton by dispersing iron into the ocean. The underlying expectation is that more carbon will be trapped in biomass and then deposited on the ocean floor as sediment.

  2. Re:What the Earth is a buffered system? by fuzzyfuzzyfungus · · Score: 3, Funny

    That has to be bullshit because we know climate change is real and man made. The planet is doomed unless everyone rides their bike to work and eats rice cakes.

    I'm sure it will please you to know that your straw man has helped to sequester just a bit of carbon that would otherwise have remained in the atmosphere!

  3. Re:What the Earth is a buffered system? by GameboyRMH · · Score: 4, Interesting

    The ocean acting as a buffer isn't a good thing, this causes ocean acidification which chemically attacks coral and shelled sea creatures.

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    "When information is power, privacy is freedom" - Jah-Wren Ryel
  4. Need advice. by grub · · Score: 3, Funny


    Does this mean I should cancel my Prius order and go for an Escalade instead?

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    Trolling is a art,
    1. Re:Need advice. by flayzernax · · Score: 5, Funny

      Do not worry, fuel prices and energy costs will continue to inflate faster then inflation of fiat currency =) And celebrity boobs.

      You made a good choice!

  5. Re:What the Earth is a buffered system? by Zocalo · · Score: 4, Interesting

    It can get much worse than that since the algal bloom can also reduce oxygen levels in the water, wiping out a much larger chunk of marine ecosystems than coral and shell fish. Depending on the individual blooms, it could be a good thing and provide a respite from rising CO2, but it might also be a case of out of the frying pan and into the fire...

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  6. Re:What the Earth is a buffered system? by Joce640k · · Score: 3, Informative

    Also anti-buffered, eg. when the Siberian permafrost melts.

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    No sig today...
  7. Re:What the Earth is a buffered system? by OakDragon · · Score: 3, Funny

    That has to be bullshit because we know climate change is real and man made. The planet is doomed unless everyone rides their bike to work and eats rice cakes.

    I'm sure it will please you to know that your straw man has helped to sequester just a bit of carbon that would otherwise have remained in the atmosphere!

    But if you burn that straw man, you'll release it back again!

  8. Iron from Anartic doesn't rock by shadowofwind · · Score: 3, Funny

    I saw them a couple of years ago at Ozzfest. They're basically an Iron Maiden / Iced Earth copycat, with the pretentiousness of an 80's hair band but even less talent.