Ocean fertilization by pyrogenic aerosol iron

Abstract

Abstract Aerosols supply bioaccessible iron to marine biota which could affect climate through biogeochemical feedbacks. This paper review progresses in research on pyrogenic aerosol iron. Observations and laboratory experiments indicate that the iron solubility of pyrogenic aerosol can be considerably higher than lithogenic aerosol. Aerosol models highlight a significant contribution of pyrogenic aerosols (~20%) to the atmospheric supply of dissolved iron into the ocean. Some ocean models suggest a higher efficiency of pyrogenic iron in enhancing marine productivity than lithogenic sources. It is, however, challenging to quantitatively estimate its impact on the marine biogeochemical cycles under the changing air quality and climate.