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Marine Carbon Cycle

Marine Carbon Cycle

deciphering & bilancing

Through the direct exchange of gases at the sea surface, the marine carbon cycle plays a central role in the climate system. Greenhouse gases (especially carbon dioxide CO₂) can be absorbed by the ocean from the atmosphere as well as released into it. The marine carbon cycle is one of the factors that determine the direction of this exchange.

The aim of the researchers at MARUM is to gain a better understanding of the various core processes of the marine carbon cycle. The marine carbon cycle describes the occurrence and reservoirs of carbon compounds in the oceans, as well as the associated biological and abiotic processes.This includes the primary incorporation of dissolved inorganic carbon (DIC) into photosynthesizing biomass (algae), as well as the transport and decomposition of organic material on and in the seafloor.

Typical questions are:

Where do organisms get the energy to maintain their metabolism?
Which symbioses and exchange processes play a role?
Under which extreme pressure and temperature conditions is life still possible?

In order to successfully answer these and many other questions, MARUM has excellent and extensive equipment and facilities.

Participating Research Groups

Aggregate of marine snow. Photo: MARUM – Center for Marine Environmental Sciences, University of Bremen; M. H. Iversen) — left: sinking organic particles; right: sketch of the marine carbon cycle

Selection of current research projects

C-Quest

Dicover molecular pathway for glyco-carbon sequestration

(ERC Consolidator Grant)

sea4society

Innovative approaches to improve the carbon storage potential of coastal vegetation ecosystems

(DAM Research Mission)

Archean Park

Relics of ancient cellular biogeochemistry in an underground ecosystem with high CO₂ content

(ERC Synergy Grant)

Current news

Showing 1-4 of 89 items.

Juan David Escorcia is a fellow in the FRONTIERS residency program for journalists. Photo: Escorcia

Feb 3, 2026

FRONTIERS Residency at MARUM

Journalist Juan David Escorcia began working at MARUM in February. He is a fellow in the FRONTIERS residency program for journalists and will be working at ...

It shimmers and sparkles in the deep sea: Under the protruding flange of the hydrothermal vent on the Knipovich Ridge, hot fluids reflect the light due to their optical properties. The image was taken during Expedition MSM131 with the remotely operated vehicle (ROV) MARUM-QUEST 4000. Photo: MARUM – Center for Marine Environmental Sciences, University of Bremen.

Jan 6, 2026

Organic carbon in a submarine pressure cooker

Where does hydrogen in the deep sea come from? An international team led by the University of Bremen addressed this question and discovered an unexpected ...

Blue serpentinite mud from a newly discovered mud volcano in a gravity core. The samples have been studied by a team in order to decipher the survival strategies of microorganisms. Photo: SO292/2 Expedition Science Party

Oct 30, 2025

Fats provide clues to life at its limits in the deep sea

Diverse life forms exist on and within the ocean floor. These primarily consist of microbes, tiny organisms that can cope with extreme environmental ...

This year, LCOY25 was hosted by Leuphana University in Lüneburg. Photo: MARUM – Center for Marine Environmental Sciences, University of Bremen; A. Kopf

Oct 24, 2025

Young voices for the climate

Around 1,600 participants exchanged ideas at the 8th German Climate Conference for young people between the ages of 14 and 30 (LCOY25). At Leuphana ...