ocean carbon uptake
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Rain May Increase Ocean Carbon Uptake More Than We Thought
A Lamont-led study finds that global carbon budgets may underestimate how much carbon dioxide the ocean absorbs by roughly 5% to 15% because they do not fully account for the effects of rain.
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Robot Sailboats Will Spend Five Years Measuring Carbon in the Southern Ocean
Led by researchers at NOAA and Columbia University, the Constraining Ocean Carbon with Optimized Observing (COCO2) project will use uncrewed surface vehicles to reduce uncertainty in estimates of the ocean carbon sink.
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New Study Reveals Hidden “Chemical Currency” Fueling the Ocean’s Carbon Cycle
This research identifies a diverse set of molecules released by marine phytoplankton that fuel microbial life and help drive Earth’s carbon cycle.
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Unexpected Climate Feedback Links Antarctic Ice Sheet With Reduced Carbon Uptake
New study reveals surprising link between West Antarctic Ice Sheet (WAIS) retreat and algae growth over the past 500,000 years.
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Columbia Will Co-Lead Major Project To Study Global Carbon Cycle
Awarded by Schmidt Sciences, a new grant will provide up to $45 million to four interdisciplinary teams of researchers who will seek to improve climate modeling across land, air and sea.
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Tiny Giants: Marine Microbes’ Pivotal Role in the Ocean’s Future
These “invisible” organisms are key to the question of how much carbon the ocean can hold.
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How Much Carbon Can the Ocean Hold? Lamont Researchers Aim To Find Out
Galen McKinley and her research group are quantifying how much carbon the ocean removes from the atmosphere—and how much it fluctuates—to better understand climate change.
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Yes, These Flesh-Eating Algae Are Real. And They Like Their Prey Alive.
New research suggests that photosynthetic green algae also eat bacteria on a previously unsuspected scale.
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How Will the Ocean Carbon Cycle Evolve in the Future? New Project Aims to Find Out
A new effort to analyze the ocean’s ability to take up CO2 will be important for predicting the effectiveness of climate change mitigation efforts.

COP31, the 2026 United Nations Climate Change Conference, aims to advance dialogue, strengthen consensus, and accelerate climate action on a global scale. From November 9–20, 2026 in Antalya, Türkiye, heads of state, ministers, scientists, business leaders, and civil society will gather to advance efforts in emission targets, climate finance, and adaptation and resilience. Once again, our experts, students, and global thought leaders from Columbia Climate School and across Columbia University are contributing to key events, sharing insights, and helping shape the dialogue toward ambitious, science-based solutions. Learn More
