More carbon dioxide in oceans could harm carbon-eating microbes, speed climate change
Monday, March 10, 2025 - 15:14
in Earth & Climate
The carbon dioxide (CO 2 ) spewing from human activities is not only changing Earth’s atmosphere, it’s also rapidly acidifying the planet’s oceans. In 50 years, that acidification could reduce the oceans’ ability to absorb CO 2 by 10% as it takes a toll on phytoplankton, microscopic single-cell organisms that feed on the gas through the process of photosynthesis, a new study suggests. Reported this week in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences , the effect could in turn cause atmospheric CO 2 to build up faster ...
