Catarina Guerreiro at the 9th SOLAS OSC

MARE researcher Catarina Guerreiro took part in the 9th SOLAS OSC, which took place between 10 and 14 November in Goa (India). Catarina took part in this event, organised by the CSIR-National Institute of Oceanography, to present the plenary session on the central theme ‘Atmospheric deposition and ocean biogeochemistry. 

During her keynote presentation, ‘Aeolian dust deposition in the ocean: a calcifying phytoplankton perspective’, the MARE researcher shared the work she carried out at the beginning of her career, where she studied marine ecological and biogeochemical responses to the deposition of Saharan dust in the Atlantic. This work focused on coccolithophore seaweed communities and resulted from interdisciplinary collaborations with several European researchers.

In her presentation, Catarina Guerreiro explained how fertilisation by dust in the tropical Atlantic mainly benefits the rate of fast-flowering coccolithophores that live on the surface. In addition, the researcher showed that this dust also contributes to the production of cellular concentrations, which is strong enough to increase the production and export of coccolithophores and particulate organic carbon (POC). This means that the increasingly frequent occurrence of dust storms (due to increased desertification) can contribute (at least partially) to counterbalancing the weakening of the biological carbon pump related to global warming.

By taking part in the event, Catarina Guerreiro was able not only to share her work and knowledge, but also to make new connections in a cosy and stimulating environment for scientific exchange that encourages collaboration and innovation.

SOLAS OSC is a biennial event that brings together the international oceanographic and atmospheric communities working on topics related to the study of the ocean surface and the lower atmosphere.