The mystery of carbon conservation in the oceans is revealed

Jan. 3 () –

A new study has revealed the key mechanisms that preserve organic carbon in the oceana critical process that influences the climate, the carbon cycle and the formation of fossil fuels.

Organic carbon normally breaks down in most environments. However, large quantities remain preserved in marine sedimentsa mystery that has baffled scientists for decades.

Over time, the preserved organic carbon can be transformed into oil or gas, effectively locking up significant amounts of carbon that could otherwise be released into the atmosphere as carbon dioxide, Earth’s largest contributor to climate change.

Now, research published in the journal Nature Geoscience, led by scientists at the University of Manchester and the University of Leeds, has identified two overlooked processes that play a dominant role in preserving organic carbon beneath the ocean floor:

– Sorption: the absorption of carbon by minerals.

– Molecular transformation: the conversion of smaller, more reactive molecules into larger, less reactive molecules.

This new knowledge could inform strategies to limit carbon emissions from the oceans, offering valuable tools in the fight against climate change.

Over several years, the research team developed a comprehensive model that considers a broader range of carbon conservation processes than ever before. These include burial in sediments, hydrolysis (the breakdown of carbon in water), sorption (the absorption of carbon by mineral surfaces), and molecular transformation (the formation of larger, less reactive molecules).

The researchers compared their model to real-world data collected from ocean sediments. The results found that the carbon conservation efficiency was almost three times higher than previously calculated by other models.

They also found that their calculations better matched real-world field data, providing more accurate predictions of how much organic carbon is stored under the sea. They then used artificial intelligence along with their model to find out which processes play the key roles.

Dr. Peyman Babakhani said in a statement: “Understanding how and why carbon is stored in marine sediments is crucial if we want to harness or replicate these natural processes to combat climate change.

“Our findings shed light on previously overlooked mechanisms, offering new avenues for carbon management. It was surprising to see how the combination of a new numerical model, Monte Carlo, and artificial intelligence provided crucial information on the preservation of matter organic in marine sediments, which had been debated for decades.

“AI, often seen as a black box, has become a powerful tool when applied in the right way, helping us understand complex environmental processes.”

The study highlights the crucial role of sorption and molecular transformation in the carbon cycle. Together, these processes protect organic matter from degradation in the upper layer of ocean sediment and transport it deeper. Over time, this preserved carbon can be transformed into oil or gas, preventing it from being released as carbon dioxide into the atmosphere.

New information and new models can be used to investigate climate change mitigation strategies, such as ocean fertilization.