Robotic floats show windblown dust supports a third of Southern Ocean's phytoplankton growth, impacting Earth's climate.

Robotic floats reveal that windblown dust provides enough iron to support a third of the Southern Ocean's phytoplankton growth, which plays a crucial role in Earth's climate. The Southern Ocean, known as a 'shock absorber', captures up to 40% of human-generated CO2 absorbed by the planet's oceans each year. Understanding the role of dust in oceanic ecosystems can help predict how global warming will affect key climate processes.