Aron Stubbins

Sponsor: NSF Chemical Oceanography

Collaborative Research: Nutrient-mediated interactions between plastic-derived dissolved organic carbon and the biological carbon pump

This project is part of critical work to both understand and mitigate the plastics crisis at Northeastern. It will test the hypothesis that plastics are slowing down the ocean’s ability to take up carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. The ocean today takes up around 25% of all the carbon dioxide we emit by burning fossil fuels. Without the oceans taking up this emitted carbon dioxide the Earth would be a lot warmer. Plastics may be reducing the ability of the ocean to offset our CO2 emissions. If we do not reduce plastics waste and carbon dioxide emissions, the combined outcome will be a planet that is less able to support humanity’s needs for food, clean water, and safe living conditions.

PIs / Institutes: Stubbins, A. (Lead PI), Lavender Law, K. (Sea Education Association), Kai Ziervogel and Robert Letscher (University of New Hampshire).