Hidden climate superpower: Why some ocean “snow” carries six times more carbon
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 unexpected connection between ocean slime and Earth's climate.
Published on The Global News Feed
Illustrative image. Cheminée hydrothermale sous une pluie de neige marine (Ifremer 00401-51200) Image credit: null · Licence: CC BY 4.0 · Source
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 unexpected connection between ocean slime and Earth's climate.