Have you noticed that the sky in Florida has been more hazy than normal recently? The reason for that is Saharan Dust. Dust from the Saharan Desert gets blown up into the atmosphere and travels across the Atlantic Ocean to be deposited in the Caribbean, the Amazon, and the Southeastern United States almost every year between June and August. This dust brings many nutrients such as iron with it. Studies have shown that up to 87 percent of the iron in the Atlantic Ocean has come from the Saharan Dust over the years. This supply of iron is vital for flora and fauna to survive. Phytoplankton uses iron during photosynthesis which takes a large amount of carbon dioxide out of the atmosphere. Many types of algae and Vibrio species also use iron, though too much iron can cause harmful blooms. These can cause beaches to close, kill marine animals, or infect people. The particles brought over through the Saharan Dust can also cause breathing problems for people, especially those with preexisting problems. To read more about the iron in the ocean click here. To learn more about Saharan Dust click here.
Hi Mikaila! This was a very interesting post to read. Seeing the sky hazy and seeing it in the fossils was really neat to me. I have always read about it in textbooks, but I feel like I can better understand the whole thing now after seeing it in person. I find it really fascinating that something so far away can be so essential to an ecosystem, yet at the same time, too much is harmful. It is amazing to realize how balanced nature is and how humans really aren't meant to be as involved with it as we are. Interestingly enough though, the dust can create really beautiful sunrises and sunsets, so us humans can't complain too much about the allergy outbursts!
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