The Surf Check

A satellite image taken by NASA’s Earth Observer shows dust being blown off the coast of Australia, into the Pacific.

In a impressive act of global homeostatic-poetry, recent dust storms in Australia (set off by climactic changes) could produce some mitigating effects on global warming. Bloomburg.com reports that last week Sidney and other parts of Australia were consumed in massive yellow and orange clouds of dust.

Scientist Craig Strong, a coordinator for DustWatch, a research and monitoring agency, explained to Bloomburg Press that the dust was blown up by gail force winds ripping through the Australian Outback. It was then blown to the Eastern Coast and eventually onto open ocean. These arid topsoils are rich in iron, and when that iron settles offshore it will provide nutrients for sea life.

“It’s been pretty well established that if iron is available, then it will lead to phytoplankton blooms,” Heiko Daniel, lecturer in agronomy and soil science at the University of New England, said to Bloomburg. “And they take up carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.”

When viewed from a greater perspective it could be said that this is perhaps a great balancing act on the part of the planet. In a statement NOAA, The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association, stated that, “Changes in the amount of atmospheric dust in Eastern Australia are associated with local wind variations that the researchers related to changes in the behavior of the Pacific climate system.”

Climactic changes primarily have a negative effect on people and the land on which they live. Dust storms can cause respiratory problems for some, and the winds blow away valuable topsoils from agricultural operations. However, some experts, such as Brett Stevenson of Market Check, are sighting the winds as a “net positive” for the region, as they have brought much needed rain.

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An Encyclopedia Britannica illustration shows how algae blooms will feed other, larger fish.

A similar benefit for the ocean may also exists. Once the dust begin to settle over the ocean it will sponsor huge growths in sea life. As this Encyclopedia Britannica illustration dictates, first algae blooms (from the iron) feed large number of zooplankton. Zooplankton then become food for larger and larger fish. Also, the massive algae bloom will have to consumes carbon dioxide to complete photosynthesis. Scientists speculate that this large amount of carbon dioxide being removed from the planet may actually slow global warming, according to Heiko Daniel.

So if carbon dioxide is decreased in our atmosphere it could slow global warming. Which could in tun stabilize earth’s sub climates. The same sub climates that turned up the massive amounts of dust in the first place.