Journal Article

Saharan Dust Deposition May Affect Phytoplankton Growth in the Mediterranean Sea at Ecological Time Scales

Basart, Sara, Peters, Francesc, Gallisai, Rachele, Volpe, Gianluca, Baldasano, José Maria

2014

Overview

The surface waters of the Mediterranean Sea are extremely poor in the nutrients necessary for plankton growth. At the same time, the Mediterranean Sea borders with the largest and most active desert areas in the world and the atmosphere over the basin is subject to frequent injections of mineral dust particles. We describe statistical correlations between dust deposition over the Mediterranean Sea and surface chlorophyll concentrations at ecological time scales. Aerosol deposition of Saharan origin may explain 1 to 10% (average 5%) of seasonally detrended chlorophyll variability in the low nutrient-low chlorophyll Mediterranean. Most of the statistically significant correlations are positive with main effects in spring over the Eastern and Central Mediterranean, conforming to a view of dust events fueling needed nutrients to the planktonic community. Some areas show negative effects of dust deposition on chlorophyll, coinciding with regions under a large influence of aerosols from European origin. The influence of dust deposition on chlorophyll dynamics may become larger in future scenarios of increased aridity and shallowing of the mixed layer.

• Publisher: Public Library of Science,Public Library of Science (PLoS)
• Subject: Aerosol deposition / Aerosols / Aerosols atmosfèrics / Africa, Northern / Air / Air pollution / Aire / algal community / algal growth / Algorithms / Aridity / Atmosphere / Atmospheric aerosols / atmospheric deposition / autumn / Biology and Life Sciences / cell count / Chlorophyll / Chlorophyll - metabolism / circannual rhythm / concentration (parameters) / Contaminació / Contaminació atmosfèrica / Correlation / Degradació ambiental / Deposition / Desenvolupament humà i sostenible / Desert Climate / Desert environments / Deserts / Dust / Dust deposition / Dust effects / Dust particles / Dust storms / Earth science / Earth sciences / ecological phenomena and functions / ecological time scale / Enginyeria química / Fitoplàncton / geographic distribution / Growth / Marine Biology / Mediterranean Sea / Mediterrània (Mar) / Mineral dust / nonhuman / Nutrients / Phytoplankton / Phytoplankton - growth & development / Plankton / Pollution / Pols mineral / primary production (biomass) / Química del medi ambient / Refueling / Regulation / Saharan dust / Saharan dust deposition / sea surface waters / seasonal variation / spring / Statistical analysis / summer / Surface water / Time / Time series / Àrees temàtiques de la UPC