New research expeditions in the Southwest Atlantic are uncovering how the biological pump moves carbon from the ocean surface to the deep sea. Scientists are studying the daily vertical migration of billions of marine animals and the role of subsurface phytoplankton in sequestering carbon. Understanding these natural processes is critical for climate regulation, as the ocean absorbs about one third of human produced carbon dioxide. These findings help fill major gaps in how carbon is transported and stored in the deep ocean.
