Scientists have identified a previously overlooked factor in the ocean's ability to sequester carbon: the stickiness of marine snow. According to research examining how these particles behave as they sink, the physical consistency of the aggregated organic matter plays a decisive role in determining how much carbon reaches the deep ocean. Gooier, more cohesive particles resist bacterial breakdown during their descent, allowing them to transport significantly greater quantities of carbon than their looser counterparts. The findings indicate that the stickiest marine snow can carry more than six times as much carbon to depth, underscoring a mechanism that had received little attention in prior climate modeling.
The discovery points to an unexpected link between ocean slime and Earth's climate system, suggesting that the biological and physical properties of sinking particles merit closer scrutiny. Because the deep ocean serves as a long-term reservoir for carbon, processes that govern the efficiency of this downward transport have direct implications for how much atmospheric carbon dioxide the seas can absorb. The researchers note that current models may not adequately account for variations in particle stickiness, potentially affecting projections of ocean carbon uptake. Further study is needed to determine how these properties vary across regions and how they might shift as ocean conditions change.
Independent reporting synthesized from primary wires and global correspondents.