Tiny ocean algae build Earth's climate archives
Microscopic diatoms form durable silica shells that accumulate on the ocean floor, creating sediment layers that reveal Earth's ancient climate history and contribute to global oxygen.
Microscopic diatoms, vital ocean oxygen producers, create glass-like silica shells. When these single-celled organisms die, their durable shells sink, forming vast sediment layers called diatom ooze on the seafloor. These deposits, particularly thick in nutrient-rich waters, can reach hundreds of meters.
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