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Post by mkelter on Aug 5, 2013 2:10:31 GMT
The Sahara dust is a very important source of phosphorous in the Amazon basin. Not many people know that. Hmmm, interesting. Perhaps this is a source of Florida's rich phosphorous deposits.
Considering phosphorous' role as a nutrient in the water column, and considering it's effect on algal growth, this furthers the case of Saharan Air Layer's impact on sea surface temperatures.
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Post by sigurdur on Aug 5, 2013 2:17:54 GMT
I think the source in Florida is fossil. I had read a paper not too long ago about how important the Sahara dust is to the Amazon eco system. The fear was that as the Sahara greens up. which it is doing. that the growth in the basin would be negatively affected.
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Post by sigurdur on Aug 5, 2013 2:19:46 GMT
Mike: That is an interesting observation. Had not thought of a potential effect on the ocean at large.
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Post by mkelter on Aug 5, 2013 2:35:36 GMT
The Sahara dust is a very important source of phosphorous in the Amazon basin. Not many people know that. Out of curiosity, how phosphorous-rich is this Saharan dust anyway?
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Post by sigurdur on Aug 5, 2013 3:45:04 GMT
I don't remember the analysis per ton. What I remember was how important it was to the Amazon basin. The clay particles are what carry the phosphorous. The study examined the lower biota of the Amazon during the Holocene Optimum as a relationship to the green growth in the Sahara. One assumption was that the Sahara would green in a warmer world. There was also some question as to sea currents changing as a result of the increased warmth. I discounted that part because I don't think we know enough about currents. I will have to see if I can find it. It was on an Ag page where I saw the reference to the study.
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Post by sigurdur on Feb 8, 2015 3:09:23 GMT
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