The Mystery of Respiration in the Dark Ocean

More than three-quarters of the Earth is covered by the ocean, home to millions of sea creatures. Tiny plants in the surface ocean use energy from the sun to grow, producing the oxygen we breathe. When these plants die, their remains sink like snowflakes into the deeper ocean, where bacteria and small animals break them down through a process called respiration. If respiration happens near the surface, carbon dioxide is released back into the air, but when respiration occurs deeper, the carbon dioxide stays trapped for a long time, helping to regulate Earth’s climate. Scientists face challenges in measuring respiration in the dark, cold, and high-pressure depths of the ocean. In this article, we explore how researchers worldwide are solving this puzzle and how you can help protect ocean life.