The gooier marine snow is, the better it is at transporting carbon, new study finds
A new study from the Scripps Institution of Oceanography reveals that the viscosity of marine snow significantly impacts how much carbon is transported to the deep ocean. Gooey particles are more effective at sinking, which plays a crucial role in the global carbon cycle.
Why it matters
Understanding these biological mechanisms is essential for accurate climate modeling and predicting how the ocean will continue to sequester carbon.
by Annie Roth, University of California - San Diego
edited by Sadie Harley , reviewed by Robert Egan
This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility:
Add to Preferred Sources Viscous marine snow particles (white) colonized by bacteria (orange) transport carbon to the deep ocean. Credit: Bryce Inman In the deep sea, it never stops snowing. The type of snow that falls in the ocean, known as marine snow, is very different from the flaky geometric wonders that fall on land. Marine snow describes tiny clumps of organic and inorganic detritus—think mucus, poop, silt, dead plankton, etc.—that rain from the shallows into the deep.
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