Gravity drives most of the ocean's biological carbon export to the deep sea

Nature · Published 1 October 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: Researchers used a global numerical model, combined with satellite and in situ data, to map how the ocean moves carbon from the surface to the depths. They found that while several processes move carbon, the gravitational settling of organic particles is the primary driver, accounting for 70% of total global carbon export.

The study identifies three main pathways: gravitational settling (zooplankton fecal pellets and phytoplankton aggregates), active transport by migrating animals, and physical mixing. While gravity-driven sinking moves the most carbon, different pathways store it for varying lengths of time, ranging from 50 to 150 years.

The researchers used an ensemble numerical model to quantify these regional differences, noting that high latitudes store carbon longer than subtropical gyres. A limitation of this work is that it relies on a numerical model's ability to accurately represent complex biological processes based on assimilated data.

Why it matters: Understanding which ocean pathways move carbon is vital because climate change may weaken the ocean's ability to store it.

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