Future climate-driven fires may boost ocean productivity in the iron-limited North Atlantic
- Hakan Sener
- Jul 9
- 3 min read
Updated: Jul 23
A 2025 study finds climate-driven wildfires may boost iron delivery and marine productivity in the Fe-limited North Atlantic.
A new study by Bergas-Massó et al. explores an unexpected link between climate-driven wildfires and future ocean health. As wildfires intensify in a warming world, they not only release carbon but also emit critical nutrients—especially iron (Fe). This study focuses on the role of soluble iron (SFe) from wildfire aerosols and how it may fertilize the iron-limited regions of the global ocean, particularly the North Atlantic.
While often framed as climate threats, wildfires also connect Earth’s systems by cycling nutrients and shaping marine productivity. Using next-generation Earth System Models, the researchers estimate that by 2100, climate-driven fires could increase SFe deposition by up to 40% in high-latitude oceans, boosting productivity by as much as 20% annually—and up to 44% during Northern Hemisphere summers.
Key Findings: Fires as Ocean Fertilizers
Iron from Fires: A Climate Feedback Loop
Wildfires emit bioavailable iron (SFe), which airborne particles deliver to distant oceans.
Climate change alone could increase Fe emissions from fires 1.7–1.8× over direct human-driven projections.
The Northern Hemisphere, particularly North American boreal regions, is a hotspot for future fire Fe emissions.
Boosting Productivity in Iron-Limited Oceans
The high-latitude North Atlantic, a region limited by iron but rich in other nutrients, could see up to 40% more marine productivity in summer due to increased SFe inputs.
This effect may prolong coccolithophore blooms, enhancing carbon export and drawing more CO₂ from the atmosphere.
Mitigating Climate-Driven Declines
Under high-emission scenarios (SSP370 and SSP585), nutrient mixing in oceans is expected to decline.
Yet, SFe from climate-driven fires could partially offset productivity losses by 7–8% in the North Atlantic.
Not All Regions Benefit
In the Southern Ocean, reductions in anthropogenic fire and fossil emissions counteract the benefits of increased climate-driven fires.
The equatorial Pacific and Southern Hemisphere are less affected due to complex interactions between fire sources, nutrient solubility, and prevailing winds.
Why This Matters: Fires Reshape Ocean Carbon Cycles
Fe-limited ocean regions (like the North Atlantic and Southern Ocean) are crucial for absorbing atmospheric CO₂ through phytoplankton blooms and the biological carbon pump. These blooms sequester carbon in deep waters, influencing long-term climate stability.
As the world warms, marine primary productivity faces risks from declining macronutrients due to stronger ocean stratification. However, this study reveals that wildfire-derived micronutrients may buffer some of these losses, especially in the Northern Hemisphere.
A Complex Fire-Ocean Feedback Emerges
This study introduces a new feedback loop: climate change → more wildfires → more soluble iron → more ocean productivity → more carbon capture. While not a silver bullet, this mechanism may soften some climate impacts in Fe-limited oceans.
Yet, the study urges caution. It relies on conservative fire emission estimates and acknowledges substantial uncertainties in Fe solubility modeling. Observational data and improved fire aerosol models are critical for refining projections.
Ultimately, this work highlights the surprising biogeochemical role of climate-driven wildfires in a rapidly changing world—and calls for their inclusion in future Earth system and climate-carbon models.
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