Understanding the role of kelp forests in climate mitigation

Given their rapid growth rate and large size, kelp forests are attracting interest for their potential to remove atmospheric carbon dioxide. In addition to capturing large amounts of carbon through photosynthesis, kelp also releases carbon into seawater as dissolved organic carbon, or dissolved sugars. Yet the fate of this dissolved organic carbon is largely unknown. Assistant Professor of Oceans Brooke Weigel and Associate Professor of Oceans Kristen Davis in the Doerr School of Sustainability will study how giant kelp in nearshore ecosystems produce and cycle dissolved organic carbon. To inform predictive modeling, they will also investigate how different oceanographic conditions and climate change variables impact the rate at which giant kelp release dissolved carbon. Their goal is to improve estimates of how much kelp-derived carbon ends up in the deep sea. A better understanding of these dynamics is critical to quantify the contributions of kelp forests to global carbon sequestration and include them in climate mitigation strategies.

Above: A snail sits on a blade of giant kelp (Macrocystis pyrifera) in Monterey, California. Image credit: Brooke Weigel