The Invisible Ocean Engine That Controls Earth’s Climate

Every year, the ocean removes billions of tons of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. Most people assume whales, mangroves, or seagrass are responsible for this massive climate service.

But the largest carbon capture system on Earth is actually microscopic.

In this episode of How to Protect the Ocean, we explore the biological carbon pump, a powerful process driven by ocean microbes that captures carbon at the surface and transports it deep into the ocean for centuries.

These tiny organisms, including phytoplankton and cyanobacteria, form the foundation of marine food webs and play a critical role in regulating Earth’s climate. Without them, atmospheric CO₂ levels could be dramatically higher.

We break down how this microbial system works, why it matters for climate stability, and how warming oceans could disrupt one of the planet’s most important natural carbon storage mechanisms.

Understanding the ocean’s smallest organisms might be the key to understanding our planet’s climate future.