Born in
Old Lyme, Connecticut, he is known for his research on the role of
iron as a
phytoplankton micronutrient, and its significance for so-called "
High-Nutrient, Low Chlorophyll" regions of the
oceans. He further advocated the use of
iron fertilization to enhance oceanic
primary production and act as a
sink for
fossil fuel carbon dioxide. He is also known for the
Martin curve, a power law which is widely used by oceanographers to describe the export to the ocean floor of
particulate organic carbon (POC). John Martin died from
prostate cancer at the age of 58. ==Quotes==