The ocean regulates Earth's climate by absorbing significant amounts of anthropogenic carbon

Nature · Published 2 October 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: Researchers who reviewed the ocean carbon cycle found that the ocean plays a critical role in moderating climate change. By absorbing roughly 25% of human-caused CO2 emissions over recent decades, the ocean helps control atmospheric concentrations and regulates Earth's temperature on timescales spanning tens to thousands of years.

The study explains that the ocean's carbon inventory is driven by seawater chemistry and two main mechanisms: the solubility pump and the biological pump, which move carbon into deep layers for long-term sequestration. However, this absorption causes ocean acidification and may reduce the ocean's future ability to buffer CO2.

This review synthesizes existing knowledge on ocean functions and highlights the scientific uncertainty regarding how these cycles will respond to future climate shifts.

Why it matters: The ocean is a vital but vulnerable buffer against climate change.

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