Editorial: Aerosol Deposition in the Ocean: Drivers and Biogeochemical Effects

Aerosol deposition provides an important pathway connecting the atmosphere and ocean, delivering mineral dust, nutrients and anthropogenic compounds that can alter marine biogeochemistry. This Research Topic “Aerosol deposition in the ocean: drivers and biogeochemical effects” published at Frontiers in Marine Science brings together five studies exploring these interactions across contrasting aerosol sources and oceanographic settings, from Saharan and Patagonian dust to volcanic ash and anthropogenic nitrogen deposition. Together, they show that ocean responses depend not simply on the amount of material deposited, but on aerosol composition, nutrient solubility and bioavailability, deposition pathways, and the environmental conditions of the receiving waters. The collection highlights the complexity of translating atmospheric inputs into changes in marine productivity and carbon cycling, while identifying key observational and experimental gaps that still limit our ability to quantify their biogeochemical impacts.

Reference: Guerreiro, C.V., Stuut, J.-B.W., Guieu, C. & Jickells, T. (2026). Editorial: Aerosol deposition in the ocean: drivers and biogeochemical effects. Front. Mar. Sci., 13, 1936598. https://doi.org/10.3389/fmars.2026.1936598