Viscous Marine Snow Transports More Carbon to Deep Ocean
New imaging shows that high-viscosity particles resist bacterial degradation, effectively storing more carbon in the deep sea.
Updated on Oct. 27, 2026 in Life Sciences
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Researchers at UC San Diego have developed a 3D imaging technique to quantify how marine snow viscosity influences carbon sequestration. Published on October 8, 2026, the study reveals that highly viscous marine snow transports significantly more carbon to the deep ocean.
Why it matters
Understanding the physical barriers that protect marine snow from bacterial degradation is crucial for accurately modeling how the ocean stores carbon. This research clarifies a key mechanism governing the stability of carbon transport in deep-sea ecosystems.
The researchers combined 3D confocal microscopy—an optical imaging technique that uses spatial filtering to eliminate out-of-focus light—with specialized fluorescent molecules to map marine snow. Highly viscous particles resist bacterial colonization, requiring more time for bacteria to degrade and fragment them.
The players
UC San Diego
A top-tier research university housing the Scripps Institution of Oceanography, which specializes in marine science and deep-ocean carbon dynamics.
Scripps Institution of Oceanography
A global research center focused on oceanographic studies, climate change monitoring, and marine ecosystem analysis.
University of Lincoln
A research institution providing collaborative support for advanced microscopy and interdisciplinary scientific modeling.
Bryce Inman
A lead researcher investigating the mechanics of microbial degradation and carbon sequestration within marine snow.
The details
Marine snow, a collection of dead plankton, waste, mucus, and minerals, acts as a vehicle for carbon transfer to the deep ocean. Bacteria typically colonize the less viscous surface regions of these particles, but higher internal viscosity functions as a physical barrier that slows this process. By slowing degradation, viscous structures allow carbon to reach depths where it remains stored for extended periods.
Timeline
Bryce Inman began investigating bacterial interactions with marine snow in 2021.
Researchers finalized the 3D imaging approach in 2025.
The imaging technique was published in Nature Communications on July 22, 2026.
Findings on marine snow viscosity were published in Science on October 8, 2026.
The Tech Race
This study refines the current understanding of the biological pump by quantifying how marine snow viscosity regulates the efficiency of carbon burial in the deep ocean. The new imaging method provides a foundation for future comparative studies of microbial interactions within coral reefs and human digestive tracts.
This imaging technique provides scientists with a standardized tool to map mucus structures in various biological environments. Researchers plan to deploy these methods to examine bacterial interactions in human digestive tracts and coral reef systems.
The takeaway
The study establishes that higher viscosity in marine snow is a critical factor in ensuring that carbon reaches the deep ocean rather than being recycled at the surface. Watch for upcoming research applying this 3D imaging methodology to human gut health and coral reef biodiversity.
Further reading
Explore the latest Life Sciences advancements to see how new imaging techniques are transforming our understanding of marine ecosystems.
Source note: This article includes information reported by SciTechDaily.
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