Nitrogen-fixing plankton, called diazotrophs, play a key role in making the nutrients that sustain ocean food webs. 

We are learning how we can support this natural process to capture carbon dioxide and restore marine ecosystems at scale.

In the South Pacific, hydrothermal vents naturally supply trace amounts of iron (Fe) as well as other nutrients like phosphorous (P) to surface waters. These underwater volcanos stimulate the growth of diazotrophs, like Trichodesmium, that fix atmospheric nitrogen gas (Nâ‚‚) and turn it into bioavailable ammonia (NHâ‚„).

This new nitrogen supports phytoplankton blooms that naturally capture millions of tons of carbon dioxide and sustain ocean ecosystems.

Growing Oceans is studying this natural process to understand how nutrient supply supports ocean vitality and carbon dioxide sequestration, and exploring the potential of such processes for planetary scale solutions.