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    • Phytoplankton are part of the oceans' biological pump.
    Rights: NOAA Published 30 June 2010 Size: 5.4 MB Referencing Hub media

    When phytoplankton1 die, many sink and take their carbon2 (calcium carbonate shells) to form sediments3 at the bottom of the ocean. This is called a biological pump, removing carbon from the ocean and atmosphere4 systems for long periods of time.

    Acknowledgement: NOAA

    1. phytoplankton: Very small plant organisms that drift with water currents and, like land plants, use carbon dioxide, release oxygen and convert minerals to a form animals can use.
    2. carbon: A non-metal element (C). It is a key component of living things.
    3. sediments: Material that settles to the bottom of a liquid. In geology, it describes the solid fragments of inorganic or organic material that come from the weathering of rock and are carried and deposited by wind, water or ice.
    4. atmosphere: 1. The layer of gas around the Earth. 2. (atm) A non-SI unit of pressure equivalent to 101.325 kPa.

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    Carbon cycle

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      phytoplankton

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      2. Very small plant organisms that drift with water currents and, like land plants, use carbon dioxide, release oxygen and convert minerals to a form animals can use.

      atmosphere

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      3. 1. The layer of gas around the Earth.

      2. (atm) A non-SI unit of pressure equivalent to 101.325 kPa.

      carbon

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      4. A non-metal element (C). It is a key component of living things.

      sediments

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      5. Material that settles to the bottom of a liquid. In geology, it describes the solid fragments of inorganic or organic material that come from the weathering of rock and are carried and deposited by wind, water or ice.

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