Iron in Ocean Locks UpCarbon Dioxide, New Study Shows

A study of a natural source of iron seeping into the Southern Ocean shows that the mineral stimulates the growth of algae that permanently sequesters carbon deep undersea. The research, conducted by scientists at the University of Southampton and published in the journal Nature, showed that a natural source of iron near the Crozet Islands tripled the growth of CO2-absorbing phytoplankton and also led to the plankton sinking to the bottom of the sea, where it is stored. The results, hailed by a number of British scientists, are likely to give impetus to efforts to artificially seed the world’s oceans with iron as a way of encouraging growth of carbon-absorbing phytoplankton. The study suggested that the type of iron used is important and experts said that much research remains to be done on the impact of ocean-seeding experiments. The German government, facing protests from some environmental groups, called off such an experiment earlier this month. But this week the government said that the study by the Alfred Wegener Institute for Polar and Marine Research would take place later this year.