Deep-sea robots are scoping out the secret origins of algae blooms

The North Atlantic Ocean punches far above its weight when it comes to scrubbing carbon dioxide. While it accounts for less than 1.5 percent of the total surface area of the world's oceans, it captures about 20 percent of the CO2 sequestered by the seas. Cold ocean waters help trap planet-warming carbon dioxide lingering in the atmosphere. Then, algae soak up that carbon dioxide during photosynthesis, just like grasses and trees do on land. From the information collected thus far, the scientists have concluded that the spring bloom is preceded by a "winter simmer," when algae tend to lay low.