FROM TOXINS TO CLOUDS?The addition of iron to the oceans could stimulate algal blooms that might be harmful or beneficial. Some scientists caution that iron fertilization could favor certain species of the marine diatom, Pseudo-nitzchia (left), which can sometimes produce domoic acid, a toxin harmful to animals and humans. On the other hand, algae called coccolithophorids (right) release dimethyl sulfide, which eventually encourages cloud formation in the atmopshere that can block solar radiation and help cool the planet. (Photo on left by Mary Wilcox Silver, University of California, Santa Cruz)[back]
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