Hurricanes Transported Shallow Sediments to Deep Ocean
Scientists found that powerful storms move nutrients and minerals from reefs to the abyssal plain.
Updated on Oct. 1, 2026 in Environmental
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Researchers discovered that hurricanes act as a transport mechanism for shallow-water sediment and nutrients into the deep ocean. Data from the Oceanic Flux Program shows that storms move carbonate minerals to depths of 10,500 feet.
Why it matters
The dissolution of these carbonate minerals in cold, deep water helps increase ocean alkalinity. This process serves as a natural mechanism to neutralize carbon dioxide and mitigate the effects of ocean acidification.
Sediment traps at a depth of 10,500 feet collected material after hurricanes Fabian in 2003 and Igor in 2010. Scientists used this record to measure how hurricane-generated near-inertial waves reach depths of 2,460 feet to mobilize seafloor sediment.
The players
Oceanic Flux Program
This long-term research initiative operates a deep-ocean observatory located southeast of Bermuda.
National Science Foundation
This federal agency provides the financial support necessary for the maintenance of the Oceanic Flux Program.
The details
Hurricanes passing near the Bermuda Pedestal, an extinct volcano, create waves that strike the seafloor to lift sediment plumes containing clay, lead, and phosphorus. These carbonate-rich particles then sink to the abyssal plain, where they dissolve and contribute to ocean chemistry regulation.
Timeline
The Oceanic Flux Program began its deep-ocean observations in 1978.
Hurricane Fabian transported sediment to deep traps in 2003.
Hurricane Igor deposited additional material in 2010.
Lead signatures from 1990s fuel use remain in the sediment record.
Researchers perform a recovery operation for moored particles every six months.
Deeper Dive
This study extends the longitudinal data collected by the Oceanic Flux Program by linking extreme weather events to geochemical shifts. The findings provide a new theoretical framework for how hurricane activity influences deep-sea carbonate burial on a geological scale.
Understanding how hurricanes buffer ocean acidification provides critical data for global climate modeling and environmental policy. These insights help scientists project how future changes in storm intensity may alter ocean chemistry and marine ecosystems.
The takeaway
Hurricanes are not just destructive forces at the surface but also vital engines for deep-ocean nutrient cycling. Their ability to deliver buffering minerals to the seafloor represents a significant, previously under-recognized natural defense against rising ocean acidity.
Further reading
Learn more about climate science and the ocean in our Environmental section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Earth.
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