biological pump

oceanography

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July 17, 2026

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The biological pump is a process in oceanography that moves carbon from the atmosphere to the deep ocean. Phytoplankton, microscopic marine organisms, play a crucial role by absorbing carbon dioxide during photosynthesis. When these organisms die, they sink, carrying carbon with them to the ocean floor.123

This process is vital for regulating Earth's climate by sequestering atmospheric carbon. However, rising sea surface temperatures may be reducing phytoplankton biomass, potentially impacting the ocean's ability to act as a carbon sink. The ocean's chemical composition, including dissolved inorganic carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorus, is essential for supporting phytoplankton growth and thus the biological pump.12345

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global warming
Carbon dioxide
Another process, the “biological pump,” involves the uptake of dissolved CO₂ by marine vegetation and phytoplankton (small free-floating photosynthetic organisms) living in the upper ocean or by other marine organisms that use CO₂ to build skeletons and other structures made of calcium carbonate (CaCO₃). As these organisms expire…
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Another process, the “biological pump,” involves the uptake of dissolved CO₂ by marine vegetation and phytoplankton (small free-floating photosynthetic organisms) living in the upper ocean or by other marine organisms that use CO₂ to build skeletons and other structures made of calcium carbonate (CaCO₃). As these organisms expire…
Read More