The Kīlauea eruption in May 2018 shook Hawai‘i, but its effects reached much farther than anyone expected. A new study reveals that the volcanic ash from Kīlauea traveled over 1,200 miles and triggered one of the largest phytoplankton blooms ever recorded in the North Pacific Ocean. This unexpected chain reaction offers critical insight into the interconnectedness of Earth’s land, air, and sea systems.
A Volcanic Plume with Oceanic Impact
When Kīlauea erupted in 2018, it released a towering ash plume nearly five miles high. While the local destruction was clear, what wasn’t obvious at the time was how far that ash would travel—or what it would do when it got there. Now, scientists from an international team have confirmed that this airborne ash landed in the nutrient-starved North Pacific Subtropical Gyre, kickstarting a massive oceanic event.
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Phytoplankton Boom Fueled by Ash
Phytoplankton are microscopic, plant-like organisms that serve as the base of the marine food chain. They also play a major role in absorbing atmospheric carbon dioxide. According to Professor David Karl from the University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa, the sudden arrival of volcanic ash in the ocean brought a surge of iron—an essential nutrient for phytoplankton growth.
Using satellite imagery, the research team tracked the ash’s path and identified a massive phytoplankton bloom near the dateline—an area where such blooms are extremely rare. “This was likely the largest bloom ever seen in this region,” Karl said. “It helps refine our understanding of how land-based events affect the ocean’s carbon cycle.”
Ocean Chemistry Changed by Eruption
The eruption released vast amounts of gases—about 50 kilotons of sulphur dioxide and 77 kilotons of carbon dioxide daily at its peak. Lava entering the sea heated nutrient-rich waters, lifting them toward the surface. Combined with ash carried by the wind, the conditions were ripe for an explosion of marine life.
Dr. Wee Cheah from Universiti Malaya, a co-author of the study, explained that satellite data and Argo float readings helped the team map both the ash deposition and resulting bloom. The presence of iron in the ash created a rare opportunity for phytoplankton to thrive in otherwise nutrient-poor waters.
Nature’s Own Carbon Capture
This bloom didn’t just transform the ocean surface—it also acted as a natural carbon sink. As the phytoplankton died, they sank to the ocean floor, taking trapped carbon with them. Karl estimates that the amount of organic carbon sequestered could match nearly half the carbon dioxide emitted by the eruption.
The researchers believe that this process may happen more often than previously thought, every time volcanic ash enters ocean systems. They hope to track future eruptions in real time, deploying research vessels to study these blooms as they unfold.
This discovery connects volcanic activity to global climate systems in a new way, highlighting the Earth’s surprising ability to self-regulate through natural processes triggered by disaster.
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