Volcanic ash is full of minerals like iron that phytoplankton need to grow. When ash is blown into the ocean, it can stimulate volcanic blooms. Understanding that relationship on the microscopic scale can help us explore wider effects on the ecosystem.
The Volcanic Blooms project, a collaboration between Bigelow Laboratory and Colby College, is trying to better understand the impacts of ash from volcanic eruptions on phytoplankton communities.
In this video, Senior Research Scientist Ben Twining and Colby College Assistant Professor of Earth Sciences Bess Koffman share behind-the-scenes looks at their research, including what it takes to collect and analyze samples.
