•1 min read•from Oceanography News -- ScienceDaily
Scientists find a massive hidden CO2 sponge beneath the ocean floor
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Scientists have discovered a significant hidden reservoir of carbon dioxide (CO2) beneath the ocean floor in the South Atlantic. This finding reveals that porous breccia deposits formed from eroded lava rubble can trap vast amounts of CO2 for tens of millions of years, far exceeding the carbon storage capacity of previously sampled ocean crust. This breakthrough reshapes our understanding of the long-term carbon balance between the ocean, rocks, and atmosphere, unveiling a crucial mechanism that contributes to the stabilization of Earth’s climate over geological timescales.
Researchers found that eroded lava rubble beneath the South Atlantic can trap enormous amounts of CO2 for tens of millions of years. These porous breccia deposits store far more carbon than previously sampled ocean crust. The discovery reshapes how scientists view the long-term balance of carbon between the ocean, rocks, and atmosphere. It also reveals a hidden mechanism that helps stabilize Earth’s climate over geological timescales.
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#ocean data#interactive ocean maps#ocean circulation#climate monitoring#climate change impact#CO2 sponge#ocean floor#carbon storage#Earth's climate#eroded lava rubble#South Atlantic#carbon balance#geological timescales#climate stabilization#porous breccia deposits#atmospheric carbon#carbon reservoir#hidden mechanisms#carbon sequestration#ocean crust