Climate change causes Arctic sea ice collapse, threatening food web and carbon cycle.

Research has found that climate change-induced early collapse of Arctic sea ice directly impacts the biological pump. The Polar Research Institute of Korea (KOPRI) confirmed that the reduction in Arctic sea ice accelerates the sinking of sea ice microalgae and alters the carbon sequestration process, as announced on September 23. This study was published in the international academic journal Limnology and Oceanography in March. The biological pump refers to the process by which organic matter in the ocean sinks to the deep sea, isolating carbon for long periods. Specifically, sea ice microalgae, which are photosynthetic microalgae living inside and at the bottom of sea ice, fall into the ocean when the ice melts, becoming food for zooplankton, fish, and benthic organisms, and contributing to carbon sequestration through the biological pump. Sea ice microalgae account for up to 60% of the primary producers in the entire Arctic Ocean. KOPRI researchers analyzed long-term data ...