Marine Snow Viscosity Determines How Much Carbon Reaches Deep Ocean

Researchers at Scripps Oceanography and the University of Lincoln used 3D confocal microscopy and fluorescent molecular rotors to measure the nanoscale viscosity of marine snow for the first time. High-viscosity particles carry more than six times as much carbon to the deep ocean as runnier ones — a variable absent from every current climate model.

• High-viscosity marine snow transports over six times more carbon to depth
• Marine snow moves over 10 gigatons of carbon a year, but only about 2 gigatons is stored
• First 3D viscosity maps of particles resolved finer than a single bacterium
• Viscosity is missing from climate models estimating ocean carbon uptake