Ken O. Buesseler

Papers

Total Citations

291

H-Index

About

Ken O. Buesseler is a leading marine biogeochemist whose work has fundamentally advanced our understanding of the ocean’s role in the global carbon cycle. His research focuses on the biological carbon pump—the process by which carbon fixed by phytoplankton in the sunlit surface ocean is exported to the deep sea. Buesseler is best known for spearheading the EXPORTS (EXport Processes in the Ocean from Remote Sensing) initiative, a major NASA field campaign designed to predict the export and fate of global ocean net primary production. His seminal 2016 paper outlining the EXPORTS Science Plan has garnered over 290 citations, serving as a foundational blueprint for the field. Through innovative use of thorium-234 as a tracer for sinking particles, Buesseler has provided critical insights into how much carbon leaves the surface ocean and at what depths it is remineralized. His work has been instrumental in quantifying the efficiency of the biological pump, with profound implications for climate models. A recipient of numerous honors, including the prestigious A.G. Huntsman Award, Buesseler continues to shape ocean biogeochemistry, inspiring a new generation of researchers to explore the ocean’s hidden carbon pathways.