How the ocean's biological pump moves carbon into the deep sea
In short: Researchers reviewing ocean processes found that the biological pump plays a vital role in the global carbon cycle. This process involves phytoplankton in sunlit surface waters producing organic matter that eventually sinks into the dark, deep ocean. Once there, this material is broken down by microbes and animals, effectively removing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere for periods ranging from months to thousands of years.
The study identifies three main ways carbon moves from the surface to the deep ocean: through gravity, animal migration, and physical mixing. Because these pathways rely on such different biological and physical mechanisms, scientists find it difficult to create a precise global accounting of how much carbon is actually sequestered.
This review synthesizes current progress in quantifying these complex export pathways to suggest how researchers might eventually achieve a comprehensive global carbon inventory.
Why it matters: Understanding these complex ocean pathways is essential for accurately modeling the global carbon cycle.
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