Mineral formation, ocean circulation, and human activity together shape the upper-ocean iron cycle, affecting climate and food security
Original framing: “Author Correction: Authigenic mineral phases as a driver of the upper-ocean iron cycle” — Nature
Recent high‑resolution oceanographic surveys combine in‑situ iron speciation, autonomous glider measurements, and coupled Earth system models to quantify how authigenic mineral phases interact with organic ligands and phytoplankton uptake. This multi‑method approach validates the mineral driver while exposing gaps in temporal coverage and model parameterisation.
The upper‑ocean iron cycle is not merely a mineralogical process but a nexus where geological, climatic, economic, and cultural forces converge, shaping global carbon dynamics and food security.
Indigenous observations, historical alterations from trade and mining, and cross‑cultural climate regimes collectively reveal a pattern of systemic imbalance amplified by contemporary emissions and subsidy structures. By embedding Indigenous monitoring, reforming fisheries economics, and upgrading coupled models, we can re‑balance iron fluxes, bolster marine productivity, and mitigate climate feedbacks. Such integrated action requires the collaboration of coastal communities, multinational policy bodies, and interdisciplinary scientists, echoing past successes where collective stewardship restored nutrient regimes after historic disruptions.