Volcanic ash fertilizes ocean plankton blooms
Volcanic eruptions release nutrient-rich ash that fertilizes distant oceans, triggering massive plankton blooms essential for marine ecosystems and carbon sequestration, even influencing weather.
Volcanic eruptions dramatically fertilize ocean ecosystems by dispersing ash rich in iron, phosphorus, and silica into the sea. These vital minerals, often scarce in open waters, act as a natural boost for phytoplankton, the microscopic algae forming the base of marine food chains. When ash settles, it sparks rapid growth, creating massive plankton blooms visible from space.
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