Hydrothermal vents supply vital metals to fuel carbon-storing phytoplankton growth in Southern Ocean

A new study reveals that hydrothermal vents in the Southern Ocean are a crucial source of iron and manganese, essential metals that fuel the growth of phytoplankton, which are key to the ocean's biological carbon pump. These vents release metal-rich water that rises to the ocean surface, helping to fertilise phytoplankton and enhance carbon sequestration. The discovery, part of the National Oceanography Centre-led CUSTARD project, provides important insights into natural metal sources in the ocean, which is critical for evaluating climate intervention strategies like artificial ocean fertilisation aimed at mitigating climate change impacts. (Metro Red)