Spinning the ferrous wheel: how is iron cycled in Southern Ocean waters?

The Southern Ocean is of global importance as it plays a key role in regulating Earth's climate. At present the supply of iron to Southern Ocean surface waters is extremely low and hence restricts the ability of phytoplankton to flourish and draw down carbon dioxide. This Project aims to probe the ability of Southern Ocean phytoplankton to take up and retain iron using new, state-of-the-art iron isotope tracer techniques. The results from this Project will reveal the strategies that phytoplankton employ to survive in this iron-impoverished environment and their potential ability to adapt to future environmental change.