Research
Hidden climate superpower: Why some ocean “snow” carries six times more carbon
The Brief
- Scientists found that the stickiness of marine snow affects how much carbon reaches the deep ocean.
- Stickier, gooier particles resist bacterial breakdown.
- According to the source, some such particles can transport more than six times as much carbon to the depths.
Why it matters
Marine snow is a key route for moving carbon from the surface to the deep ocean, so understanding what controls its transport helps science readers interpret the ocean's role in the carbon cycle.
- #marine snow
- #carbon cycle
- #ocean
- #carbon sequestration
- #deep ocean
Scientists have discovered that the stickiness of underwater “marine snow” plays a surprisingly important role in how much carbon reaches the deep ocean. Gooier particles resist bacterial breakdown and can transport more than six times as much carbon to the depths, revealing an…
Timeline
ScienceDaily reports the findings on stickiness and carbon transport in marine snow
Plants & Animals News -- ScienceDaily
Hidden climate superpower: Why some ocean “snow” carries six times more carbon