Rapid shifts in fire regimes affect the carbon cycle by releasing carbon and nutrients such as iron (Fe), potentially enhancing marine productivity and carbon export. Here we use fire emission projections and Earth system models to examine how climate-driven changes in fire emissions may alter soluble Fe (SFe) deposition and productivity. By century’s end, climate change could increase Fe emissions from fires by 1.7–1.8 times beyond projections considering only direct human influences. Model projections show rising SFe deposition in Northern Hemisphere high latitudes under increasing socio-economic activity, potentially boosting the impact of SFe deposition on productivity in the Fe-limited North Atlantic by up to 20% annually (40% in summer), assuming stable macronutrient levels. However, declining macronutrient availability may shrink Fe-limited areas, where climate-driven fires could offset productivity losses by 7–8%. In the Southern Ocean, fossil fuel emissions primarily control SFe deposition, as reductions in anthropogenic fires counterbalance climate-driven increases.

Droughts and climate-change-driven warming are leading to more frequent and intense wildfires1–3, arguably contributing to the severe 2019–2020 Australian wildfires4. The environmental and ecological impacts of the fires include loss of habitats and the emission of substantial amounts of atmospheric aerosols5–7. Aerosol emissions from wildfires can lead to the atmospheric transport of macronutrients and bio-essential trace metals such as nitrogen and iron, respectively8–10. It has been suggested that the oceanic deposition of wildfire aerosols can relieve nutrient limitations and, consequently, enhance marine productivity11,12, but direct observations are lacking. Here we use satellite and autonomous biogeochemical Argo float data to evaluate the effect of 2019–2020 Australian wildfire aerosol deposition on phytoplankton productivity. We find anomalously widespread phytoplankton blooms from December 2019 to March 2020 in the Southern Ocean downwind of Australia. Aerosol samples originating from the Australian wildfires contained a high iron content and atmospheric trajectories show that these aerosols were likely to be transported to the bloom regions, suggesting that the blooms resulted from the fertilization of the iron-limited waters of the Southern Ocean. Climate models project more frequent and severe wildfires in many regions1–3. A greater appreciation of the links between wildfires, pyrogenic aerosols13, nutrient cycling and marine photosynthesis could improve our understanding of the contemporary and glacial– interglacial cycling of atmospheric CO2 and the global climate system.

Regional mapping of Above Ground Biomass Density (AGBD) using Remote Sensing data has shown high accuracy but lacks replicability at a global scale. In contrast, global models capture AGBD variability across biomes but struggle with biome-specific accuracy. To address this gap, we develop and assess the performance of a Deep Learning model for mapping AGBD at 10-m resolution using multi-source satellite data (Sentinel-1, Sentinel-2, ALOS PALSAR-2, and GEDI) across four biomes: Mediterranean, taiga (boreal forests), tropical rainforests, and semi-arid savannas. The model is trained and validated separately for each biome, yielding four regional models with normalized RMSEs of 0.43–0.67 and correlation coefficients (r) of 0.61–0.77 against forest inventories. We compare predictions from these models to a benchmark dataset and to a model trained on all four biomes combined. The regional models consistently outperform both, achieving better metrics than the benchmark. Additionally, an analysis of prediction drivers reveals biome-specific differences, reinforcing the importance of per-biome mapping approaches. This study highlights the advantages and limitations of regional against global modeling, creating the basis for biome-specific, replicable, scalable and multi-temporal AGBD mapping.

This perspective piece on aerosol deposition to marine ecosystems and the related impacts on biogeochemical cycles forms part of a larger Surface Ocean Lower Atmosphere Study status-of-the-science special edition. A large body of recent reviews has comprehensively covered different aspects of this topic. Here, we aim to take a fresh approach by reviewing recent research to identify potential foundations for future study. We have purposefully chosen to discuss aerosol nutrient and pollutant fluxes both in terms of the journey that different aerosol particles take and that of the surrounding scientific field exploring them. To do so, we explore some of the major tools, knowledge, and partnerships we believe are required to aid advancing this highly interdisciplinary field of research. We recognize that significant gaps persist in our understanding of how far aerosol deposition modulates marine biogeochemical cycles and thus climate. This uncertainty increases as socioeconomic pressures, climate change, and technological advancements continue to change how we live and interact with the marine environment. Despite this, recent advances in modeling techniques, satellite remote sensing, and field observations have provided valuable insights into the spatial and temporal variability of aerosol deposition across the world’s ocean. With the UN Ocean Decade and sustainable development goals in sight, it becomes essential that the community prioritizes the use of a wide variety of tools, knowledge, and partnerships to advance understanding. It is through a collaborative and sustained effort that we hope the community can address the gaps in our understanding of the complex interactions between aerosol particles, marine ecosystems, and biogeochemical cycles.

The ocean plays a central role in modulating the Earth’s carbon cycle. Monitoring how the ocean carbon cycle is changing is fundamental to managing climate change. Satellite remote sensing is currently our best tool for viewing the ocean surface globally and systematically, at high spatial and temporal resolutions, and the past few decades have seen an exponential growth in studies utilising satellite data for ocean carbon research. Satellite-based observations must be combined with in-situ observations and models, to obtain a comprehensive view of ocean carbon pools and fluxes. To help prioritise future research in this area, a workshop was organised that assembled leading experts working on the topic, from around the world, including remote-sensing scientists, field scientists and modellers, with the goal to articulate a collective view of the current status of ocean carbon research, identify gaps in knowledge, and formulate a scientific roadmap for the next decade, with an emphasis on evaluating where satellite remote sensing may contribute. A total of 449 scientists and stakeholders participated (with balanced gender representation), from North and South America, Europe, Asia, Africa, and Oceania. Sessions targeted both inorganic and organic pools of carbon in the ocean, in both dissolved and particulate form, as well as major fluxes of carbon between reservoirs (e.g., primary production) and at interfaces (e.g., air-sea and land–ocean). Extreme events, blue carbon and carbon budgeting were also key topics discussed. Emerging priorities identified include: expanding the networks and quality of in-situ observations; improved satellite retrievals; improved uncertainty quantification; improved understanding of vertical distributions; integration with models; improved techniques to bridge spatial and temporal scales of the different data sources; and improved fundamental understanding of the ocean carbon cycle, and of the interactions among pools of carbon and light. We also report on priorities for the specific pools and fluxes studied, and highlight issues and concerns that arose during discussions, such as the need to consider the environmental impact of satellites or space activities; the role satellites can play in monitoring ocean carbon dioxide removal approaches; economic valuation of the satellite based information; to consider how satellites can contribute to monitoring cycles of other important climatically-relevant compounds and elements; to promote diversity and inclusivity in ocean carbon research; to bring together communities working on different aspects of planetary carbon; maximising use of international bodies; to follow an open science approach; to explore new and innovative ways to remotely monitor ocean carbon; and to harness quantum computing. Overall, this paper provides a comprehensive scientific roadmap for the next decade on how satellite remote sensing could help monitor the ocean carbon cycle, and its links to the other domains, such as terrestrial and atmosphere.