{"id":82776,"date":"2018-08-12T07:59:51","date_gmt":"2018-08-12T17:59:51","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.hawaii.edu\/news\/?p=82776"},"modified":"2020-05-08T11:33:43","modified_gmt":"2020-05-08T21:33:43","slug":"kilauea-eruption-ocean-microbes","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.hawaii.edu\/news\/2018\/08\/12\/kilauea-eruption-ocean-microbes\/","title":{"rendered":"UH<\/abbr> investigating effect of K\u012blauea eruption on ocean microbes and ecosystem"},"content":{"rendered":"Reading time: <\/span> 2<\/span> minutes<\/span><\/span>
\"lava
Lava going into the ocean. Photo taken from the backdeck of the UH<\/abbr> research vessel Kaʻimikai<\/span>-O-Kanaloa. (Photo credit: Ryan Tabata)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

A rapid response team of scientists from the University of Â鶹´«Ã½<\/span> at M\u0101noa<\/a>‘s Center for Microbial Oceanography: Research and Education<\/a> (C-MORE<\/abbr>) in the School of Ocean and Earth Science and Technology<\/a> (SOEST<\/abbr>) returned from a four-day expedition to investigate the effects of the K\u012blauea volcanic eruption on marine life near Kapoho on Â鶹´«Ã½<\/span> Island and the surrounding areas.<\/p>\n

Understanding the impact of the eruption on ocean microbes is critical to understanding its potential effect on the broader marine ecosystem.<\/p>\n

\"Satellite<\/a>
Satellite image showing phytoplankton blooms (Credit Lance Fujieki)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Satellite images revealed elevated chlorophyll levels in the ocean near the eruption zone, indicating a bloom of algae—tiny photosynthetic microbes that absorb carbon dioxide, produce oxygen and serve as the foundation of the marine food web.<\/p>\n

“We confirmed the algae bloom, although as usual mother nature also served up some surprises and challenges,” said David Karl<\/strong><\/a>, SOEST<\/abbr> oceanography<\/a> professor and C-MORE<\/abbr> director. “We found that the chemistry of the lava interacts with the ocean to provide a nourishment, a fertilizer if you will, and that promoted the growth of plants.”<\/p>\n

The researchers theorize that the lava and ash, which are enriched in iron and phosphorus, are acting as a fertilizer fueling the algae growth. Onboard the UH<\/abbr> research vessel Kaʻimikai<\/span>-O-Kanaloa<\/a>, researchers sampled the water and will study its contents to discover how the volcanic eruption and ocean entry are influencing ocean chemistry, phytoplankton activities and ecosystem processes.<\/p>\n

“The water samples are currently being analyzed at laboratories around the world,” said Karl, who said the team of researchers also conducted experiments to measure the productivity of the algae and more. “The cruise was a huge success.”<\/p>\n

The team also successfully deployed a WaveGlider and a SeaGlider, two types of drones that will be surveying the region for the next few months.<\/p>\n