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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 53-56 of 89 items.

Expedition ARCTIC2018 in August and September 2018 with the research vessel Akademik Tryoshnikov to the Arctic Barents and Kara Seas. Foto: Alfred-Wegener-Institut / Andreas Rogge

Nov 21, 2022

Arctic Carbon Conveyor Belt Discovered

Every year, the cross-shelf transport of carbon-rich particles from the Barents and Kara Seas could bind up to 3.6 million metric tons of CO₂ in the Arctic ...

Internal structure of planktonic foraminiferal shell obtained by an X-ray Micro-Computer-Tomography. It shows the preserved shell (left) and dissolved shell (right). The heat map indicates the spatial distribution of density and porosity in the shell. Red

Nov 11, 2022

New method reveals carbon distribution of the past in the Southern Ocean

Oceans, and in particular deep water circulation in the Southern Ocean, play and have played an important role in the global carbon cycle. Using carbonate ...

In lectures and poster presentations, the symposium offers a platform for the exchange and discussion of scientific results on processes on and in the ocean floor. Photo: MARUM/Prange

Oct 11, 2022

70 ocean floor experts visiting MARUM

In the framework of the Cluster of Excellence "The Ocean Floor - Earth's Uncharted Interface", MARUM is hosting the "Ocean Floor Symposium" from October 9 ...

Sep 21, 2022

Fact sheet on the CDRmare project AIMS³

As part of the research mission "Marine carbon sinks in decarbonisation pathways” of the German Marine Research Alliance (DAM), more than 200 researchers ...