Marine snow has cooled the planet for millions of years

Marine snow has cooled the planet for millions of years Today’s Video of the Day from the University of Sydney describes marine snow, which has helped to stabilize the temperature and keep the planet cool for millions of years.  

“Marine snow is the falling debris of dead organisms in the ocean, such as plankton and algae,’ said study lead author Dr. Adriana Dutkiewicz.

“The deep ocean floor is covered with the remains of these tiny sea creatures. They produce more than 25 percent of the oxygen we breathe and form the Earth’s largest carbon sink. When organic particles fall from the surface ocean to the seafloor, a small but significant proportion of atmospheric carbon is stored away.”

The study is published in the journal Geology.

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By Chrissy Sexton, Earth.com Staff Writer

Video Credit: University of Sydney