Georgia scientists look to seagrass for climate solutions

This coverage is made possible through a partnership between WABE and Grist, a nonprofit environmental media organization.

The world’s oceans absorb nearly a third of global carbon dioxide emissions. Seagrass beds, in particular, are carbon-storing powerhouses. While less than 1% of the seafloor is made up of seagrass beds, those beds store about 11% of the ocean’s buried carbon, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. 

But soaking up all that carbon can cause ocean water to become more acidic, a problem that scientists have been tracking for years.