"Desert Dust Feeds Deep Ocean Life"

"US scientists have found that dust from the Sahara desert provides most of the iron found in the Atlantic ocean."

"LONDON ? Marine scientists have a better answer for why the deep ocean is blue while coastal waters are usually green, as well as a better handle on the more complex questions about the ocean's role in the absorbing all the carbon dioxide we're pumping into the atmosphere.

The insight comes as scientists measure levels of iron dissolved in the Atlantic ocean and trace the metal back to its source.

And in the course of settling these points, they have also answered questions about North Africa's importance to the rest of the world. Turns out the Sahara keeps the world's oceans and the Amazon supplied with valuable dust."

Tim Radford reports for Climate News Network July 16, 2014.