How Much Carbon Can the Ocean Hold? Lamont Researchers Aim To Find Out – State of the Planet

The theme of this year’s UN World Oceans Day, celebrated on June 8, is “Awaken New Depths.” This theme reflects the complexity and importance of the ocean, particularly its role as a natural carbon sink. Galen McKinley, a professor at Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory, and her research group are studying how the ocean absorbs carbon and mitigates climate change. McKinley explains that the ocean, along with the land biosphere, removes around half of annual CO2 emissions from the atmosphere, providing valuable climate mitigation services. To better understand this process, McKinley’s team uses machine learning to estimate monthly measurements of the ocean carbon sink. This research contributes to the Global Carbon Budget and aids in tracking the evolution of the ocean carbon sink over time. Understanding the ocean’s role in carbon storage is crucial for managing climate change effectively in the future.