Ocean circulation is really important for capturing carbon. This process has a big impact on the global carbon cycle.

1. Circulation Patterns:

   • Surface currents are moved by the wind. They carry warm water and dissolved CO2 around the oceans.
   • Deep ocean currents are part of something called thermohaline circulation. These currents transport cold, heavy water that picks up a lot of CO2 from the air.

2. Carbon Storage Capacity:

   • Oceans take in about 25% of the CO2 emissions from the atmosphere. That’s around 2.6 billion tons each year!
   • The deep ocean makes up about 90% of all ocean water. It holds around 38,000 gigatons of carbon, while the atmosphere only has about 3,000 gigatons.

3. Biological Pump:

   • Phytoplankton, tiny plants in the ocean, absorb carbon through a process called photosynthesis.
   • They send about 50% of the CO2 they take in down to the deep ocean when they die and turn into organic matter.

In short, the way ocean currents move and the role of living things in the ocean both help capture carbon. This is important for keeping our planet's climate balanced.