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News Release 18-042
NSF, NASA scientists explore ocean's 'twilight zone' to uncover links between carbon and plankton
Tiny floating organisms play a role in removing carbon dioxide from oceans, atmosphere
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![Phytoplankton bloom in the Pacific Ocean.](/news/mmg/media/images/easternPacific_vir_2016039_lrg_f.jpg)
The NSF-NASA EXPORTS project will track the fate of phytoplankton (green) in the Pacific Ocean.
Credit: NASA
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![R/V Roger Revelle sets sail on the Pacific Ocean.](/news/mmg/media/images/revelle from stern_f.jpg)
The R/V Roger Revelle will ferry scientists to the "deep blue sea" for the EXPORTS project.
Credit: Scripps Institution of Oceanography
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![R/V Sally Ride underway in the Pacific Ocean.](/news/mmg/media/images/sally ride II_f.jpg)
The R/V Sally Ride will also carry researchers into the open waters of the Pacific Ocean for EXPORTS.
Credit: Scripps Institution of Oceanography
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![Phytoplankton spiral in the sea.](/news/mmg/media/images/phytoplankton NOAA_f.jpg)
Phytoplankton are central to ocean food webs and carbon transport in the sea.
Credit: NOAA
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![Several species of zooplankton float in the sea.](/news/mmg/media/images/Zooplankton NOAA_f.jpg)
Zooplankton, which feed on phytoplankton, are a significant component of EXPORTS.
Credit: NOAA
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![Graphic showing the biological pump in the ocean.](/news/mmg/media/images/720px-CO2_pumpg.svg_f.jpg)
EXPORTS scientists will study the biological pump, which carries carbon from the ocean surface to its depths.
Credit: Wikimedia
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