BioCAN

focuses on evaluating levels and variability of bioaerosols and their impact on the biogeochemical cycle of phosphorus, nutrient that is limiting primary productivity in the Mediterranean and thus affects carbon dioxide sequestration by the marine ecosystem in this oligotrophic sea.

BioCAN is driven by the hypothesis that bioaerosols are important carriers of nutrients and especially bioavailable P to the marine ecosystems, potentially accounting for the missing source of atmospheric P in the Mediterranean. Therefore, they can impact on the marine environment of the Mediterranean through atmospheric deposition mostly during periods of seawater stratification and thereby on climate. The extent of bioaerosol’s contribution to the atmospheric deposition of P in the Mediterranean region will be quantified in BioCAN.