Iron in rivers fertilizes ocean

Oregon rivers deliver iron to the Pacific Ocean in winter rains, and the iron fertilizes plankton blooms during summer. This new finding helps explain the rich productivity of coastal waters in the region.

There are several surprises here, including the role of iron in controlling productivity of coastal oceans, the delivery of iron from rivers, and the iron cycling in sediments that fuels summertime plankton blooms.

There's a lot we don't know about oceans and ocean life.