Effects of dust storm and wildfire events on phytoplankton growth in the Southern Ocean and Tasman Sea, southeast Australia

Abstract

Dust storms and wildfires occur frequently in southeastern Australia. Their effects on ecology, environment and population exposure have been the focus of many studies recently. Dust storms do not emit ground-sequestered carbon but wildfires emit significant quantities of carbon into the atmosphere. However, both natural events promote phytoplankton growth in water bodies because carbon, and other trace elements such as iron, deposit on the surface water of oceans and promote phytoplankton growth. Carbon di-oxide is reabsorbed by phytoplankton via photosynthesis. The carbon balance of dust storms and wildfires are not well known.This study focusses on the association of dust storms and wildfires in southeastern Australia with phytoplankton growth in the Southern Ocean and Tasman Sea due to the February 2019 dust storm event and the 2019-2020 black summer wildfires. The results show the similarities and differences in phytoplankton growth patterns and carbon reabsorption amount from these events.