Marine Snow Insights Enhance Understanding of Deep-Sea Carbon Export

In a groundbreaking study published on June 19, 2025, researchers from the Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute (MBARI) and collaborating institutions have significantly advanced the understanding of the ocean's role in carbon sequestration through the investigation of marine snow. This study addresses a critical gap in climate science—quantifying how carbon is transported from the ocean surface to the depths, where it can be stored away from the atmosphere.

Marine snow, comprising dead plankton, waste, mucus, and other organic materials, plays an essential yet poorly understood role in the ocean carbon cycle. According to Dr. Sasha Kramer, a postdoctoral fellow at MBARI and lead author of the study, the research offers a predictive model linking surface ocean phytoplankton communities with the ecological mechanisms that occur in the deep ocean. This model is anticipated to improve the accuracy of satellite observations concerning carbon export by integrating data from surface phytoplankton with deep-sea carbon flux measurements.

The study arose from NASA's EXport Processes in the Ocean from RemoTe Sensing (EXPORTS) field campaign, which combines diverse scientific disciplines, including molecular biology and ocean optics, to enhance understanding of carbon transport mechanisms. The researchers sequenced DNA from 800 individual marine snow particles, identifying crucial phytoplankton groups—diatoms and photosynthetic Hacrobia—that can serve as indicators of carbon export magnitude.

Colleen Durkin, a scientist at MBARI, emphasized the significance of this research, stating, "Microscopic processes translate to global impact. By shifting our focus to individual particles, we found surprising connections that can transform efforts to measure and monitor ocean carbon export." This nuanced approach allows scientists to generate more precise models, linking surface observations to deeper oceanic processes.

Historically, studies of ocean carbon transport often relied on bulk-filtered biomass, which masked the finer details of carbon packaging and transport. The current research addresses this by meticulously sorting and analyzing individual sinking particles sampled at various depths, enhancing the understanding of the dynamics at play in carbon export.

The findings have implications not only for climate modeling but also for marine ecosystem management. With satellite technologies like NASA's PACE mission equipped to detect specific phytoplankton blooms, researchers can now better estimate carbon export rates globally. Kramer noted, "Responding to the climate crisis requires major advances in our monitoring capabilities. We must find innovative methods to observe microscopic processes and integrate them with global climate drivers."

The results of this study are expected to facilitate improved monitoring of oceanic carbon cycles, essential for predicting the impacts of climate change. The ability to correlate specific phytoplankton populations with carbon export will enhance the predictive capabilities of satellite observations, thereby informing future climate intervention strategies. As the research community anticipates further developments, the focus remains on bridging the gap between microscopic biological processes and their broader climatic implications, highlighting the ocean’s critical role in carbon sequestration and climate regulation.

In conclusion, this research represents a significant step forward in understanding the complex interactions within marine ecosystems and their impact on global carbon cycles. The collaboration among institutions and the innovative methodologies employed in this study underscore the importance of interdisciplinary approaches in addressing pressing environmental challenges. The ongoing efforts to refine models and enhance observational technologies will be crucial in mitigating the effects of climate change on ocean systems and planetary health.