Search research articles

ABOUT JoVE

Overview Leadership Blog JoVE Help Center

AUTHORS

Publishing Process Editorial Board Scope & Policies Peer Review FAQ Submit

LIBRARIANS

Testimonials Subscriptions Access Resources Library Advisory Board FAQ

RESEARCH

JoVE Journal Methods Collections JoVE Encyclopedia of Experiments Archive

EDUCATION

JoVE Core JoVE Business JoVE Science Education JoVE Lab Manual Faculty Resource Center Faculty Site

Terms & Conditions of Use

Search research articles

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 2, 2026

Dynamic Pore-scale Reservoir-condition Imaging of Reaction in Carbonates Using Synchrotron Fast Tomography

Dynamic Pore-scale Reservoir-condition Imaging of Reaction in Carbonates Using Synchrotron Fast Tomography

Published on: February 21, 2017

Tracking single coccolith dissolution with picogram resolution and implications for CO2 sequestration and ocean

T Hassenkam¹, A Johnsson, K Bechgaard

¹Department of Chemistry, Nano-Science Center, University of Copenhagen, 2100 Copenhagen, Denmark. tue@nano.ku.dk

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America

|May 10, 2011

Summary

This summary is machine-generated.

Related Concept Videos

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by

Same author

Mechanistic insight into biopolymer induced iron oxide mineralization through quantification of molecular bonding.

Nanoscale advances·2022

Same author

Surface evolution of aluminosilicate glass fibers during dissolution: Influence of pH, solid-to-solution ratio and organic treatment.

Journal of colloid and interface science·2021

Same author

Dosimetric and Clinical Predictors for Acute and Late Gastrointestinal Toxicity Following Chemoradiotherapy of Locally Advanced Anal Cancer.

Clinical oncology (Royal College of Radiologists (Great Britain))·2021

Same author

First-Principles Prediction of Surface Wetting.

Langmuir : the ACS journal of surfaces and colloids·2020

Same author

Surface Reactivity and Dissolution Properties of Alumina-Silica Glasses and Fibers.

ACS applied materials & interfaces·2020

Same author

Effect of Divalent Cations on the Interaction of Carboxylate Self-Assembled Monolayers.

Langmuir : the ACS journal of surfaces and colloids·2019

Coccoliths, algal calcite shields, are more stable than inorganic calcite due to organic material. However, ocean acidification below pH 7.8 threatens their survival, risking marine carbon sinks.

Area of Science:

Biogeochemistry
Marine Biology
Paleontology

Background:

Coccoliths are biogenic calcite (CaCO(3)) structures produced by algae, crucial for the global carbon cycle.
Ocean acidification poses a threat to coccolith stability, impacting marine ecosystems and geological records.
Fossil coccoliths exhibit remarkable preservation, suggesting unique properties compared to inorganic calcite.

Purpose of the Study:

To investigate if the biogenic origin of coccolith calcite confers enhanced stability over inorganic calcite.
To determine the impact of decreasing ocean pH on the dissolution rates of modern and fossil coccoliths.
To assess the vulnerability of coccoliths to future ocean acidification scenarios.

Main Methods:

Development of a novel method for tracking individual coccolith dissolution at picogram resolution.

More Related Videos

Measuring Carbon-based Contaminant Mineralization Using Combined CO2 Flux and Radiocarbon Analyses

Measuring Carbon-based Contaminant Mineralization Using Combined CO₂ Flux and Radiocarbon Analyses

Published on: October 21, 2016

Reservoir Condition Pore-scale Imaging of Multiple Fluid Phases Using X-ray Microtomography

Reservoir Condition Pore-scale Imaging of Multiple Fluid Phases Using X-ray Microtomography

Published on: February 25, 2015

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Jun 2, 2026

Dynamic Pore-scale Reservoir-condition Imaging of Reaction in Carbonates Using Synchrotron Fast Tomography

Dynamic Pore-scale Reservoir-condition Imaging of Reaction in Carbonates Using Synchrotron Fast Tomography

Published on: February 21, 2017

Measuring Carbon-based Contaminant Mineralization Using Combined CO2 Flux and Radiocarbon Analyses

Measuring Carbon-based Contaminant Mineralization Using Combined CO₂ Flux and Radiocarbon Analyses

Published on: October 21, 2016

Reservoir Condition Pore-scale Imaging of Multiple Fluid Phases Using X-ray Microtomography

Reservoir Condition Pore-scale Imaging of Multiple Fluid Phases Using X-ray Microtomography

Published on: February 25, 2015

Comparative analysis of dissolution rates between modern coccoliths, fossil coccoliths, and inorganic calcite.

Controlled experiments exposing coccoliths to varying pH conditions in artificial seawater.

Main Results:

Both modern and fossil coccoliths demonstrated greater stability than inorganic calcite.
Associated organic material within biogenic calcite was identified as the key factor for enhanced stability.
Coccoliths dissolved completely at pH 7.8 or lower, irrespective of their origin (modern or fossil).

Conclusions:

The biogenic nature of coccoliths provides a significant advantage in resisting dissolution, primarily due to organic matrix.
Projected ocean pH levels below 7.8 by 2100 will eliminate this protective advantage.
Coccoliths, vital carbon sinks, face substantial risk from ongoing ocean acidification, impacting marine life and sediment composition.