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EFE .- The big icebergs play a key role in the process of absorption of carbon (CO2) in the oceans, helping to contain global warming dioxide, according to a study published Today the journal Nature Geoscience.
From the analysis of satellite imagery, British scientists have determined that water from melted icebergs, rich in iron and other nutrients, stimulates the growth of phytoplankton, aquatic organisms able to accumulate CO2 during photosynthesis.
The study, conducted by experts from the British University of Sheffield, it estimates that the process launched by large chunks of floating ice is responsible for 20% of the carbon dioxide absorption in the Antarctic Ocean.
The geophysical Grant Bigg and his group studied the color changes on the surface of the water after the passage of icebergs over 18 kilometers, an indicator of phytoplankton productivity.
From 175 images taken between 2003 and 2013, researchers found that such large ice formations leave a trail of biological activity that persists at least one month after its passage.
Scientists believe that the Southern Ocean is a key player in the global carbon dioxide cycle, being responsible for approximately 10% of the CO2 absorption planet through biological and chemical processes, including phytoplankton photosynthesis.
However, previous studies have suggested that ocean fertilization produced by icebergs is a minor contribution to the growth of these organisms.
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