The Ocean Engine That Regulates Earth's Climate

How To Protect The Ocean · Mar 10, 2026 · 9m

Every year, the ocean removes billions of tons of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. Most people assume whales, mangroves, or seagrass are responsible for this massive climate service.

But the largest carbon capture system on Earth is actually microscopic.

In this episode of How to Protect the Ocean, we explore the biological carbon pump, a powerful process driven by ocean microbes that captures carbon at the surface and transports it deep into the ocean for centuries.

These tiny organisms, including phytoplankton and cyanobacteria, form the foundation of marine food webs and play a critical…