When I first think of icebergs, all I think of is little obstacles in the sea that blocks boats and ships from passing such as the titantic. However despite this, the iceberg has brought many benefits to the environment instead of just being a piece of ice. Well according to Wayne Perry from Livescience.com, "After three expeditions to Iceberg Alley, the team found that the icebergs gradually release iron, a nutrient crucial for life, as they melt, enhancing the plant life in the water around them." Well to vividly explain it, as the glaciers move they grind up various minerals like rock. The dust and rock will spread toward the marine life that feeds on iron like the phytoplankton. It's sort of like a chain cycle. To continue it off, icebergs also helps with global warming. For unknown reasons, carbon dioxide falls more often around an iceberg than a normal area. According to the article, MBRI engineers used a sediment cup to move around the iceberg. This chain would cause a "halo" effect. Ken Smith, a biologist hopes to find more about this topic. Until then, let's hope it brings changes toward global warming.
Source:
http://www.livescience.com/14153-icebergs-antarctica-southern-ocean-iron-carbon-fertilize.html
Source for picture:
http://www.bing.com/images/search?q=iceberg&id=4C5AC94C42ABF352CCEB041A916491CA1FAF4C93&FORM=IGRE1
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