Ocean Microbe Rivalries Could Revolutionize Climate Forecasts, Study Reveals
Marine microbes in oxygen-starved waters produce substantial nitrous oxide, a potent greenhouse gas. Scientists discovered microbial competition, not just chemistry, drives this process with dramatic implications for climate predictions.
Breakthrough in Understanding Marine Greenhouse Gas Production
Scientists have uncovered how microbial competition in ocean depths significantly influences the production of nitrous oxide (N₂O), a greenhouse gas with approximately 300 times the heat-trapping capacity of carbon dioxide, according to new research published in Nature Communications. The findings suggest that current climate models may be overlooking crucial biological dynamics that drive greenhouse gas emissions from Earth’s oceans.