New research from The University of Manchester and the University of Leeds has unveiled the key mechanisms used to preserve organic carbon in the ocean. While the process is vital in countless processes that influence earths climate, the carbon cycles, and even the formation of fossil fuels, the preservation mechanisms to date have been poorly understood.
While organic carbon typically breaks down in most environments, vast amounts are preserved in marine sediments. Over time, this preserved carbon is converted into oil or gas effectively locking it away preventing it from being released into the atmosphere as carbon dioxide.
New research, published in Nature Geoscience, has identified two processes, sorption and molecular transformation, that play a dominant role in preserving carbon under the ocean floor. This new understanding could lead to more informed strategies to limit carbon emissions from oceans.
"Understanding how and why carbon is stored in marine sediments is crucial if we are to harness or replicate these natural processes to combat climate change," said Dr. Peyman Babakhani. "Our findings shed light on mechanisms that were previously overlooked, offering new pathways for carbon management. It was amazing to see how the combination of a new numerical model, Monte Carlo, and artificial intelligence provided crucial insight into the preservation of organic matter in marine sediments that had been debated for decades."