Realistic Alternatives to Dust: What Else Could Feed a Plankton Bloom? The 2019 Stack Overflow...

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Realistic Alternatives to Dust: What Else Could Feed a Plankton Bloom?



The 2019 Stack Overflow Developer Survey Results Are InWhat efficiencies make a realistic food chain?Could life survive on a diet of dust?Could hydroponic farms reasonably feed 100 billion people?How realistic could creating fake bruises be?What alternatives for fire can an aquatic sentient species use?What evolved weapons could be used against graphene skin?What animal could be used to make imitation human meat?What could possibly replace beer?In a single-continent world, what could cause hydrothermal vents?What Else Could Create Jeffrey Linn's Coastlines BESIDES The Influence of Ice?












3












$begingroup$


Phytoplankton are not to be taken for granted. Not only do they form the core of marine food webs around the world, they also release half of the world's oxygen. But phytoplankton, being plant-like organisms, need nutrients for their blooms to survive and thrive into populations large enough to be visible from space. For many, the origins of those nutrients come from one of the least likely sources: desert dust storms swept up from far away by deserts. As the dust settles down to the oceans, they drop down enough nutrients to create these vast blooms on an annual basis.



But what else could feed a plankton bloom on a global scale and an annual basis?



You could say that volcanic ash could be the answer, but there's a problem--unlike dust storms, volcanoes don't erupt at once or regularly. Two eruptions from one same volcano could be years or even decades apart, and that sort of duration gap won't do for plankton blooms. So what else could feed a plankton bloom on a global scale and an annual basis?



EDIT--NO manmade processes! Everyting MUST be natural!










share|improve this question











$endgroup$

















    3












    $begingroup$


    Phytoplankton are not to be taken for granted. Not only do they form the core of marine food webs around the world, they also release half of the world's oxygen. But phytoplankton, being plant-like organisms, need nutrients for their blooms to survive and thrive into populations large enough to be visible from space. For many, the origins of those nutrients come from one of the least likely sources: desert dust storms swept up from far away by deserts. As the dust settles down to the oceans, they drop down enough nutrients to create these vast blooms on an annual basis.



    But what else could feed a plankton bloom on a global scale and an annual basis?



    You could say that volcanic ash could be the answer, but there's a problem--unlike dust storms, volcanoes don't erupt at once or regularly. Two eruptions from one same volcano could be years or even decades apart, and that sort of duration gap won't do for plankton blooms. So what else could feed a plankton bloom on a global scale and an annual basis?



    EDIT--NO manmade processes! Everyting MUST be natural!










    share|improve this question











    $endgroup$















      3












      3








      3





      $begingroup$


      Phytoplankton are not to be taken for granted. Not only do they form the core of marine food webs around the world, they also release half of the world's oxygen. But phytoplankton, being plant-like organisms, need nutrients for their blooms to survive and thrive into populations large enough to be visible from space. For many, the origins of those nutrients come from one of the least likely sources: desert dust storms swept up from far away by deserts. As the dust settles down to the oceans, they drop down enough nutrients to create these vast blooms on an annual basis.



      But what else could feed a plankton bloom on a global scale and an annual basis?



      You could say that volcanic ash could be the answer, but there's a problem--unlike dust storms, volcanoes don't erupt at once or regularly. Two eruptions from one same volcano could be years or even decades apart, and that sort of duration gap won't do for plankton blooms. So what else could feed a plankton bloom on a global scale and an annual basis?



      EDIT--NO manmade processes! Everyting MUST be natural!










      share|improve this question











      $endgroup$




      Phytoplankton are not to be taken for granted. Not only do they form the core of marine food webs around the world, they also release half of the world's oxygen. But phytoplankton, being plant-like organisms, need nutrients for their blooms to survive and thrive into populations large enough to be visible from space. For many, the origins of those nutrients come from one of the least likely sources: desert dust storms swept up from far away by deserts. As the dust settles down to the oceans, they drop down enough nutrients to create these vast blooms on an annual basis.



      But what else could feed a plankton bloom on a global scale and an annual basis?



      You could say that volcanic ash could be the answer, but there's a problem--unlike dust storms, volcanoes don't erupt at once or regularly. Two eruptions from one same volcano could be years or even decades apart, and that sort of duration gap won't do for plankton blooms. So what else could feed a plankton bloom on a global scale and an annual basis?



      EDIT--NO manmade processes! Everyting MUST be natural!







      reality-check food ocean ecology






      share|improve this question















      share|improve this question













      share|improve this question




      share|improve this question








      edited 27 mins ago







      JohnWDailey

















      asked 3 hours ago









      JohnWDaileyJohnWDailey

      2,7462785




      2,7462785






















          3 Answers
          3






          active

          oldest

          votes


















          4












          $begingroup$

          Rivers.



          river plume



          https://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/images/1257/mississippi-river-sediment-plume



          Depicted: the Mississippi dumping its load of sediment into the Gulf of Mexico. River flow is cyclical in most places, with high flow during rainy season or spring melt and low flow during dry season / winter or summer. During high flow, nutrients move from the land to the river and on to the sea. With the advent of synthetic fertilizer this can be too much of a good thing - so much nitrogen and phosphorus that they produce massive blooms, that then die.





          Icebergs.



          Icebergs generation is periodic, both intrayear and over longer periods.



          iceberg frequency
          https://www.nationalgeographic.org/media/iceberg-frequency/



          Icebergs that have scraped along the land can ferry nutrients out to sea, releasing them slowly as the ice melts.



          green iceberg



          https://phys.org/news/2019-03-mystery-green-icebergs.html




          The green icebergs have been a curiosity to scientists for decades,
          but now glaciologists report in a new study that they suspect iron
          oxides in rock dust from Antarctica's mainland are turning some
          icebergs green... Iron is a key nutrient for phytoplankton,
          microscopic plants that form the base of the marine food web. But iron
          is scarce in many areas of the ocean.



          If experiments prove the new theory right, it would mean green
          icebergs are ferrying precious iron from Antarctica's mainland to the
          open sea when they break off, providing this key nutrient to the
          organisms that support nearly all marine life.







          share|improve this answer











          $endgroup$













          • $begingroup$
            So in an alternate Earth where many of our major rivers are crammed with reefs of clams, mussels and oysters, would the rivers still be dirty enough to dump nutrients into the sea?
            $endgroup$
            – JohnWDailey
            14 mins ago



















          3












          $begingroup$

          Eventually, phytoplankton don't really feed on dust, but on nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), iron(Fe), and the various other nutrients plants need, that may compose it. But if a desert hold such nutrients, it will not stay a desert for long.



          An example of a yearly massive bloom could be a mass migration of ground animal, on shore, for reproductive purpose (a bit like toad, that need water even if they are most the time ground animal). They will stay on the shore for some weeks, defecating and urinating, and releasing a massive dose of nitrates, phosphate and so on...



          Second example, industrial activity, mainly agriculture, may lead to algae bloom (like in Brittany, France, with the famous green and smelly algae). And since plants grow on yearly cycle, fertilizer are used on a yearly basis






          share|improve this answer









          $endgroup$













          • $begingroup$
            Just made an edit to clarify that I don't want manmade processes.
            $endgroup$
            – JohnWDailey
            26 mins ago



















          3












          $begingroup$

          Up-welling. Nutrients tend to sink to the bottom, or to deep water where not enough light reaches to keep photosynthetic life forms thriving. If there is some mechanism to vigorously return deep water to the surface then it can bring the nutrients with it.



          Up-welling might well be a seasonal thing. For example, currents could flow in one direction half the year when the snow melts in this hemisphere and builds up in the other. Then in the other direction for the other half of the year. This could produce a seasonal stirring of the deeper ocean layers.



          Up-welling could be driven by temperature differences produced by geological heating that does not rise to the level of volcanoes. Water is at its highest density at close to 1.5°C. So if you have something that warms the depths it will bring the deep water back to the surface. This probably isn't seasonal.



          In exotic places with exotic tides, that might do it. If a large moon had an exceedingly eccentric orbit, you could have extreme tides for the portion of the moon's orbit when it was closest, then far weaker tides the rest of the time.






          share|improve this answer








          New contributor




          puppetsock is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
          Check out our Code of Conduct.






          $endgroup$













          • $begingroup$
            Yes, but WHAT will be welled up?
            $endgroup$
            – JohnWDailey
            15 mins ago














          Your Answer





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          3 Answers
          3






          active

          oldest

          votes








          3 Answers
          3






          active

          oldest

          votes









          active

          oldest

          votes






          active

          oldest

          votes









          4












          $begingroup$

          Rivers.



          river plume



          https://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/images/1257/mississippi-river-sediment-plume



          Depicted: the Mississippi dumping its load of sediment into the Gulf of Mexico. River flow is cyclical in most places, with high flow during rainy season or spring melt and low flow during dry season / winter or summer. During high flow, nutrients move from the land to the river and on to the sea. With the advent of synthetic fertilizer this can be too much of a good thing - so much nitrogen and phosphorus that they produce massive blooms, that then die.





          Icebergs.



          Icebergs generation is periodic, both intrayear and over longer periods.



          iceberg frequency
          https://www.nationalgeographic.org/media/iceberg-frequency/



          Icebergs that have scraped along the land can ferry nutrients out to sea, releasing them slowly as the ice melts.



          green iceberg



          https://phys.org/news/2019-03-mystery-green-icebergs.html




          The green icebergs have been a curiosity to scientists for decades,
          but now glaciologists report in a new study that they suspect iron
          oxides in rock dust from Antarctica's mainland are turning some
          icebergs green... Iron is a key nutrient for phytoplankton,
          microscopic plants that form the base of the marine food web. But iron
          is scarce in many areas of the ocean.



          If experiments prove the new theory right, it would mean green
          icebergs are ferrying precious iron from Antarctica's mainland to the
          open sea when they break off, providing this key nutrient to the
          organisms that support nearly all marine life.







          share|improve this answer











          $endgroup$













          • $begingroup$
            So in an alternate Earth where many of our major rivers are crammed with reefs of clams, mussels and oysters, would the rivers still be dirty enough to dump nutrients into the sea?
            $endgroup$
            – JohnWDailey
            14 mins ago
















          4












          $begingroup$

          Rivers.



          river plume



          https://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/images/1257/mississippi-river-sediment-plume



          Depicted: the Mississippi dumping its load of sediment into the Gulf of Mexico. River flow is cyclical in most places, with high flow during rainy season or spring melt and low flow during dry season / winter or summer. During high flow, nutrients move from the land to the river and on to the sea. With the advent of synthetic fertilizer this can be too much of a good thing - so much nitrogen and phosphorus that they produce massive blooms, that then die.





          Icebergs.



          Icebergs generation is periodic, both intrayear and over longer periods.



          iceberg frequency
          https://www.nationalgeographic.org/media/iceberg-frequency/



          Icebergs that have scraped along the land can ferry nutrients out to sea, releasing them slowly as the ice melts.



          green iceberg



          https://phys.org/news/2019-03-mystery-green-icebergs.html




          The green icebergs have been a curiosity to scientists for decades,
          but now glaciologists report in a new study that they suspect iron
          oxides in rock dust from Antarctica's mainland are turning some
          icebergs green... Iron is a key nutrient for phytoplankton,
          microscopic plants that form the base of the marine food web. But iron
          is scarce in many areas of the ocean.



          If experiments prove the new theory right, it would mean green
          icebergs are ferrying precious iron from Antarctica's mainland to the
          open sea when they break off, providing this key nutrient to the
          organisms that support nearly all marine life.







          share|improve this answer











          $endgroup$













          • $begingroup$
            So in an alternate Earth where many of our major rivers are crammed with reefs of clams, mussels and oysters, would the rivers still be dirty enough to dump nutrients into the sea?
            $endgroup$
            – JohnWDailey
            14 mins ago














          4












          4








          4





          $begingroup$

          Rivers.



          river plume



          https://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/images/1257/mississippi-river-sediment-plume



          Depicted: the Mississippi dumping its load of sediment into the Gulf of Mexico. River flow is cyclical in most places, with high flow during rainy season or spring melt and low flow during dry season / winter or summer. During high flow, nutrients move from the land to the river and on to the sea. With the advent of synthetic fertilizer this can be too much of a good thing - so much nitrogen and phosphorus that they produce massive blooms, that then die.





          Icebergs.



          Icebergs generation is periodic, both intrayear and over longer periods.



          iceberg frequency
          https://www.nationalgeographic.org/media/iceberg-frequency/



          Icebergs that have scraped along the land can ferry nutrients out to sea, releasing them slowly as the ice melts.



          green iceberg



          https://phys.org/news/2019-03-mystery-green-icebergs.html




          The green icebergs have been a curiosity to scientists for decades,
          but now glaciologists report in a new study that they suspect iron
          oxides in rock dust from Antarctica's mainland are turning some
          icebergs green... Iron is a key nutrient for phytoplankton,
          microscopic plants that form the base of the marine food web. But iron
          is scarce in many areas of the ocean.



          If experiments prove the new theory right, it would mean green
          icebergs are ferrying precious iron from Antarctica's mainland to the
          open sea when they break off, providing this key nutrient to the
          organisms that support nearly all marine life.







          share|improve this answer











          $endgroup$



          Rivers.



          river plume



          https://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/images/1257/mississippi-river-sediment-plume



          Depicted: the Mississippi dumping its load of sediment into the Gulf of Mexico. River flow is cyclical in most places, with high flow during rainy season or spring melt and low flow during dry season / winter or summer. During high flow, nutrients move from the land to the river and on to the sea. With the advent of synthetic fertilizer this can be too much of a good thing - so much nitrogen and phosphorus that they produce massive blooms, that then die.





          Icebergs.



          Icebergs generation is periodic, both intrayear and over longer periods.



          iceberg frequency
          https://www.nationalgeographic.org/media/iceberg-frequency/



          Icebergs that have scraped along the land can ferry nutrients out to sea, releasing them slowly as the ice melts.



          green iceberg



          https://phys.org/news/2019-03-mystery-green-icebergs.html




          The green icebergs have been a curiosity to scientists for decades,
          but now glaciologists report in a new study that they suspect iron
          oxides in rock dust from Antarctica's mainland are turning some
          icebergs green... Iron is a key nutrient for phytoplankton,
          microscopic plants that form the base of the marine food web. But iron
          is scarce in many areas of the ocean.



          If experiments prove the new theory right, it would mean green
          icebergs are ferrying precious iron from Antarctica's mainland to the
          open sea when they break off, providing this key nutrient to the
          organisms that support nearly all marine life.








          share|improve this answer














          share|improve this answer



          share|improve this answer








          edited 2 hours ago

























          answered 3 hours ago









          WillkWillk

          116k27220488




          116k27220488












          • $begingroup$
            So in an alternate Earth where many of our major rivers are crammed with reefs of clams, mussels and oysters, would the rivers still be dirty enough to dump nutrients into the sea?
            $endgroup$
            – JohnWDailey
            14 mins ago


















          • $begingroup$
            So in an alternate Earth where many of our major rivers are crammed with reefs of clams, mussels and oysters, would the rivers still be dirty enough to dump nutrients into the sea?
            $endgroup$
            – JohnWDailey
            14 mins ago
















          $begingroup$
          So in an alternate Earth where many of our major rivers are crammed with reefs of clams, mussels and oysters, would the rivers still be dirty enough to dump nutrients into the sea?
          $endgroup$
          – JohnWDailey
          14 mins ago




          $begingroup$
          So in an alternate Earth where many of our major rivers are crammed with reefs of clams, mussels and oysters, would the rivers still be dirty enough to dump nutrients into the sea?
          $endgroup$
          – JohnWDailey
          14 mins ago











          3












          $begingroup$

          Eventually, phytoplankton don't really feed on dust, but on nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), iron(Fe), and the various other nutrients plants need, that may compose it. But if a desert hold such nutrients, it will not stay a desert for long.



          An example of a yearly massive bloom could be a mass migration of ground animal, on shore, for reproductive purpose (a bit like toad, that need water even if they are most the time ground animal). They will stay on the shore for some weeks, defecating and urinating, and releasing a massive dose of nitrates, phosphate and so on...



          Second example, industrial activity, mainly agriculture, may lead to algae bloom (like in Brittany, France, with the famous green and smelly algae). And since plants grow on yearly cycle, fertilizer are used on a yearly basis






          share|improve this answer









          $endgroup$













          • $begingroup$
            Just made an edit to clarify that I don't want manmade processes.
            $endgroup$
            – JohnWDailey
            26 mins ago
















          3












          $begingroup$

          Eventually, phytoplankton don't really feed on dust, but on nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), iron(Fe), and the various other nutrients plants need, that may compose it. But if a desert hold such nutrients, it will not stay a desert for long.



          An example of a yearly massive bloom could be a mass migration of ground animal, on shore, for reproductive purpose (a bit like toad, that need water even if they are most the time ground animal). They will stay on the shore for some weeks, defecating and urinating, and releasing a massive dose of nitrates, phosphate and so on...



          Second example, industrial activity, mainly agriculture, may lead to algae bloom (like in Brittany, France, with the famous green and smelly algae). And since plants grow on yearly cycle, fertilizer are used on a yearly basis






          share|improve this answer









          $endgroup$













          • $begingroup$
            Just made an edit to clarify that I don't want manmade processes.
            $endgroup$
            – JohnWDailey
            26 mins ago














          3












          3








          3





          $begingroup$

          Eventually, phytoplankton don't really feed on dust, but on nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), iron(Fe), and the various other nutrients plants need, that may compose it. But if a desert hold such nutrients, it will not stay a desert for long.



          An example of a yearly massive bloom could be a mass migration of ground animal, on shore, for reproductive purpose (a bit like toad, that need water even if they are most the time ground animal). They will stay on the shore for some weeks, defecating and urinating, and releasing a massive dose of nitrates, phosphate and so on...



          Second example, industrial activity, mainly agriculture, may lead to algae bloom (like in Brittany, France, with the famous green and smelly algae). And since plants grow on yearly cycle, fertilizer are used on a yearly basis






          share|improve this answer









          $endgroup$



          Eventually, phytoplankton don't really feed on dust, but on nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), iron(Fe), and the various other nutrients plants need, that may compose it. But if a desert hold such nutrients, it will not stay a desert for long.



          An example of a yearly massive bloom could be a mass migration of ground animal, on shore, for reproductive purpose (a bit like toad, that need water even if they are most the time ground animal). They will stay on the shore for some weeks, defecating and urinating, and releasing a massive dose of nitrates, phosphate and so on...



          Second example, industrial activity, mainly agriculture, may lead to algae bloom (like in Brittany, France, with the famous green and smelly algae). And since plants grow on yearly cycle, fertilizer are used on a yearly basis







          share|improve this answer












          share|improve this answer



          share|improve this answer










          answered 3 hours ago









          CailloumaxCailloumax

          38118




          38118












          • $begingroup$
            Just made an edit to clarify that I don't want manmade processes.
            $endgroup$
            – JohnWDailey
            26 mins ago


















          • $begingroup$
            Just made an edit to clarify that I don't want manmade processes.
            $endgroup$
            – JohnWDailey
            26 mins ago
















          $begingroup$
          Just made an edit to clarify that I don't want manmade processes.
          $endgroup$
          – JohnWDailey
          26 mins ago




          $begingroup$
          Just made an edit to clarify that I don't want manmade processes.
          $endgroup$
          – JohnWDailey
          26 mins ago











          3












          $begingroup$

          Up-welling. Nutrients tend to sink to the bottom, or to deep water where not enough light reaches to keep photosynthetic life forms thriving. If there is some mechanism to vigorously return deep water to the surface then it can bring the nutrients with it.



          Up-welling might well be a seasonal thing. For example, currents could flow in one direction half the year when the snow melts in this hemisphere and builds up in the other. Then in the other direction for the other half of the year. This could produce a seasonal stirring of the deeper ocean layers.



          Up-welling could be driven by temperature differences produced by geological heating that does not rise to the level of volcanoes. Water is at its highest density at close to 1.5°C. So if you have something that warms the depths it will bring the deep water back to the surface. This probably isn't seasonal.



          In exotic places with exotic tides, that might do it. If a large moon had an exceedingly eccentric orbit, you could have extreme tides for the portion of the moon's orbit when it was closest, then far weaker tides the rest of the time.






          share|improve this answer








          New contributor




          puppetsock is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
          Check out our Code of Conduct.






          $endgroup$













          • $begingroup$
            Yes, but WHAT will be welled up?
            $endgroup$
            – JohnWDailey
            15 mins ago


















          3












          $begingroup$

          Up-welling. Nutrients tend to sink to the bottom, or to deep water where not enough light reaches to keep photosynthetic life forms thriving. If there is some mechanism to vigorously return deep water to the surface then it can bring the nutrients with it.



          Up-welling might well be a seasonal thing. For example, currents could flow in one direction half the year when the snow melts in this hemisphere and builds up in the other. Then in the other direction for the other half of the year. This could produce a seasonal stirring of the deeper ocean layers.



          Up-welling could be driven by temperature differences produced by geological heating that does not rise to the level of volcanoes. Water is at its highest density at close to 1.5°C. So if you have something that warms the depths it will bring the deep water back to the surface. This probably isn't seasonal.



          In exotic places with exotic tides, that might do it. If a large moon had an exceedingly eccentric orbit, you could have extreme tides for the portion of the moon's orbit when it was closest, then far weaker tides the rest of the time.






          share|improve this answer








          New contributor




          puppetsock is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
          Check out our Code of Conduct.






          $endgroup$













          • $begingroup$
            Yes, but WHAT will be welled up?
            $endgroup$
            – JohnWDailey
            15 mins ago
















          3












          3








          3





          $begingroup$

          Up-welling. Nutrients tend to sink to the bottom, or to deep water where not enough light reaches to keep photosynthetic life forms thriving. If there is some mechanism to vigorously return deep water to the surface then it can bring the nutrients with it.



          Up-welling might well be a seasonal thing. For example, currents could flow in one direction half the year when the snow melts in this hemisphere and builds up in the other. Then in the other direction for the other half of the year. This could produce a seasonal stirring of the deeper ocean layers.



          Up-welling could be driven by temperature differences produced by geological heating that does not rise to the level of volcanoes. Water is at its highest density at close to 1.5°C. So if you have something that warms the depths it will bring the deep water back to the surface. This probably isn't seasonal.



          In exotic places with exotic tides, that might do it. If a large moon had an exceedingly eccentric orbit, you could have extreme tides for the portion of the moon's orbit when it was closest, then far weaker tides the rest of the time.






          share|improve this answer








          New contributor




          puppetsock is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
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          $endgroup$



          Up-welling. Nutrients tend to sink to the bottom, or to deep water where not enough light reaches to keep photosynthetic life forms thriving. If there is some mechanism to vigorously return deep water to the surface then it can bring the nutrients with it.



          Up-welling might well be a seasonal thing. For example, currents could flow in one direction half the year when the snow melts in this hemisphere and builds up in the other. Then in the other direction for the other half of the year. This could produce a seasonal stirring of the deeper ocean layers.



          Up-welling could be driven by temperature differences produced by geological heating that does not rise to the level of volcanoes. Water is at its highest density at close to 1.5°C. So if you have something that warms the depths it will bring the deep water back to the surface. This probably isn't seasonal.



          In exotic places with exotic tides, that might do it. If a large moon had an exceedingly eccentric orbit, you could have extreme tides for the portion of the moon's orbit when it was closest, then far weaker tides the rest of the time.







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          answered 3 hours ago









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          • $begingroup$
            Yes, but WHAT will be welled up?
            $endgroup$
            – JohnWDailey
            15 mins ago




















          • $begingroup$
            Yes, but WHAT will be welled up?
            $endgroup$
            – JohnWDailey
            15 mins ago


















          $begingroup$
          Yes, but WHAT will be welled up?
          $endgroup$
          – JohnWDailey
          15 mins ago






          $begingroup$
          Yes, but WHAT will be welled up?
          $endgroup$
          – JohnWDailey
          15 mins ago




















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