Ocean biological carbon pump: The evolution and prospects
4 affiliations
- 1School of Automation, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu 610054, China
- 2School of the Environment, The University of Queensland, Brisbane St Lucia 2, QLD 4072, Australia
- 3School of Urban and Environmental Sciences, Shaoxing Institute of Technology, Shaoxing 312000, China
- 4School of Biological and Environmental Engineering, Xi’an University, Xi’an 710065, China
Abstract
As one of the primary pathways for atmospheric CO 2 sequestration, the marine ecosystem absorbs approximately the same amount of CO 2 as terrestrial ecosystems. This process is mainly driven by the biological activities of marine organisms, which help move CO 2 from the atmosphere into the deep ocean. In order to systematically sort out the relevant research viewpoints and development trends, this review first conducted a bibliometric analysis using the CiteSpace software to describe the distribution of national publications related to the " Ocean Biological Carbon Pump " (OBCP), the author collaboration network, and the keyword explosion situation. Subsequently, the historical development of OBCP is outlined, progressing from the classical three-component model of vertical carbon export—comprising the solubility, carbonate, and biological pumps—to more recent conceptualizations such as the microbiome carbon pump. Then, models employed in recent studies to investigate the internal mechanisms of OBCP are summarized, along with evaluations of their respective advantages and limitations. Finally, two major research frontiers in the field of OBCP are identified, and future research directions are proposed. This synthesis aims to enhance comprehension of how OBCP research has evolved and its status over the last twenty years, providing a reference for further in-depth investigation. • A bibliometric analysis of the Ocean Biological Carbon Pump (OBCP) using CiteSpace reveals the evolution of research themes, national contributions, and author collaboration networks over the past two decades. • The conceptual framework of OBCP has progressed from the classical three-component vertical carbon export model to emerging paradigms such as the microbiome carbon pump. • Key modeling approaches for investigating OBCP internal mechanisms are critically evaluated, highlighting their strengths and limitations. • Two major research frontiers are identified, along with future directions to advance understanding of marine carbon sequestration.
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BibTeX
@article{xu2026ocean,
title = {{Ocean biological carbon pump: The evolution and prospects}},
author = {Guangyu Xu and Zhixin Liu and Feng Bao and Wenfeng Zheng},
journal = {Journal of CO2 Utilization},
year = {2026},
month = may,
doi = {10.1016/j.jcou.2026.103450},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jcou.2026.103450},
note = {CC BY},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Ocean biological carbon pump: The evolution and prospects
AU - Guangyu Xu
AU - Zhixin Liu
AU - Feng Bao
AU - Wenfeng Zheng
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/05/18
JO - Journal of CO2 Utilization
DO - 10.1016/j.jcou.2026.103450
UR - https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jcou.2026.103450
AB - As one of the primary pathways for atmospheric CO 2 sequestration, the marine ecosystem absorbs approximately the same amount of CO 2 as terrestrial ecosystems. This process is mainly driven by the biological activities of marine organisms, which help move CO 2 from the atmosphere into the deep ocean. In order to systematically sort out the relevant research viewpoints and development trends, this review first conducted a bibliometric analysis using the CiteSpace software to describe the distribution of national publications related to the " Ocean Biological Carbon Pump " (OBCP), the author collaboration network, and the keyword explosion situation. Subsequently, the historical development of OBCP is outlined, progressing from the classical three-component model of vertical carbon export—comprising the solubility, carbonate, and biological pumps—to more recent conceptualizations such as the microbiome carbon pump. Then, models employed in recent studies to investigate the internal mechanisms of OBCP are summarized, along with evaluations of their respective advantages and limitations. Finally, two major research frontiers in the field of OBCP are identified, and future research directions are proposed. This synthesis aims to enhance comprehension of how OBCP research has evolved and its status over the last twenty years, providing a reference for further in-depth investigation. • A bibliometric analysis of the Ocean Biological Carbon Pump (OBCP) using CiteSpace reveals the evolution of research themes, national contributions, and author collaboration networks over the past two decades. • The conceptual framework of OBCP has progressed from the classical three-component vertical carbon export model to emerging paradigms such as the microbiome carbon pump. • Key modeling approaches for investigating OBCP internal mechanisms are critically evaluated, highlighting their strengths and limitations. • Two major research frontiers are identified, along with future directions to advance understanding of marine carbon sequestration.
SN - 2212-9820
SN - 2212-9839
ER -