The upwelling of nutrients from the deep ocean sets
the flow rate of carbon moved by the biological pump by bringing nutrients to
the photic zone. Here solar energy converts inorganic carbon to organic
material that cannot communicate with the atmosphere. As a consequence of
gravitational sinking, the majority of the carbon in the biological cycle is in
the deep ocean isolated from the atmosphere and can be considered part of a
closed cycle. Increasing the carbon flow of the biological pump, that is
increasing the pumps capacity from its present value of 4.5GtC/yr, will have
the effect of drawing carbon from atmosphere and the land to augment the cycle.
Author: I.S.F. Jones
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