Rainfall increases marine carbon sequestration: study

Rainfall enhances the ocean's ability to sequester carbon dioxide, increasing its efficiency by 5-7%, according to a study in Nature Geoscience. The improvement is linked to three processes – wet deposition, turbulence and dilution. Rainwater captures carbon dioxide mid-fall, introduces surface-level turbulence and dilutes seawater, altering the air-sea carbon gradient. These mechanisms, previously overlooked, add 140-190 million tonnes of carbon annually to oceanic sinks. Current models of carbon sequestration typically measure uptake below the surface, missing these critical dynamics. The findings could refine global carbon cycle models, offering better predictions for climate change mitigation strategies. (Extreme Technology)