Cryptic Carbon Sequestration

Content: 

The ocean is our biggest ally when it comes to regulating atmospheric CO2 levels. As the Earth’s largest carbon sink, it sequesters roughly 10 petagrams per year. But as atmospheric carbon emissions continue to rise and the planet continues to warm, how will the ocean respond?

That’s one of the biggest questions facing Earth scientists today. The ocean is a complex system, with mechanisms that absorb, circulate, sequester, and also release CO2, depending on the conditions. Understanding these interlinked processes can give researchers a better idea of what to expect as the climate changes.

Among these scientists is UC Santa Barbara geochemist and geobiologist Morgan Raven, who, thanks to a Faculty Early CAREER award from the National Science Foundation, is set to explore a lesser-known mechanism of ocean carbon sequestration — one that might become more conspicuous as the oceans warm.

“I’m really excited about this,” said Raven, an assistant professor in the Department of Earth Science. “The award allows us to investigate the scale and significance of particle-hosted sulfurization and its impacts on sedimentary carbon burial for the first time. And, it supports the development of a more accessible and inclusive research training program for undergrads in Earth Science, including opportunities for fieldwork at sea.”

News Date: 

Saturday, May 28, 2022