Science a GoGo's Home Page Forums General Discussion Climate Change Forum Iceburgs' Effect

Work done several years ago showed that large and small icebergs alike are surrounded by “halos” of abundant marine life that extend out several kilometers in all directions. It is clear that the icebergs are adding nutrients to the water around them. ... Are the nutrients the cause of the halos of marine life? ... But perhaps the most urgent question is this: are these remnants of the ice shelves helping to reduce carbon dioxide levels, and if so, how much. According to Ken Smith, an oceanographer and the expedition’s principal investigator, “We already know the new icebergs affect the water in complicated ways. We suspect they’re drawing down atmospheric carbon dioxide and sequestering particulate carbon deep in the sea. We want to know for certain, because the answers will add to our understanding of global climate change.”

On the main scienceagogo climate change board was an ad to this site:



Does anyone here have any more information about this?

Hi John, Interesting,
It seems pretty certain that Antartica ice, (prehaps all ice) contains many millions of living Microbes. which when they melt in seawater provide the halo of nutriments to the plankton which you mention, and provide food for plant and marine life.
Some of the living Microbes found by the Russians, when drilling down to lake Vostok, include:- Beauveria bassiana,-Archaea,-M.burtonnii,-and a Penicillium bacteria.As well as other yeast and fungi.
http://science.nasa.gov/newhome/headlines/ast12mar98_1.htm
Also more here.
http://www.science.psu.edu/alert/Loveland-Curtze5-2008.htm

It must be difficult to estimate the the particulates of dead life that eventually drop to the sea floor, requiring the investigation of a top marine biologist to bring up a samples of mud?