Ash falls could boost nutrients in coastal ecosystems—for better or worse
Plumes of ash from the 2017 Thomas Fire extended over the northeastern Pacific Ocean, depositing large amounts of nutrients and fueling the growth of phytoplankton in coastal ecosystems.On the evening of 4 December 2017, a small patch of brush caught fire near Santa Paula, California. The blaze soon grew into one of the largest wildfires the state had ever experienced.
The findings “demonstrate the interconnectedness of ecosystems not just locally, but regionally,” says Camille Stevens-Rumann, a fire ecologist at Colorado State University who wasn’t involved with the study. Some evidence already showed that burning forests and volcanic eruptions, which produce large amounts of ash and other airborne particles, can alter the chemistry of nearby aquatic ecosystems. These effects are often harmful because ash can contain high concentrations of toxic heavy metals. But ash can also have a fertilizing effect, because it is often rich in iron.
The results suggest wildfire ash could help boost marine nutrient levels, which can vary by season. Off the coast of Southern California, for example, nitrogen levels drop in late summer and fall—just when fire season picks up.
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