biological pump


biological pump

A term defined of the movement of CO2 in the context of global warming. The biological pump moves CO2 from the ocean surface to marine plants (e.g., phytoplankton), which convert the CO2 to food for zooplankton and their predators. Most of the CO2 taken up by phytoplankton is recycled near the surface; about 30% sinks into deeper waters before being converted back into CO2 by marine bacteria.