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May 22, 2020 · 11,570 views

Climate Benefits as Humpback Whales Make a Comeback

Climate Benefits as Humpback Whales Make a Comeback
Photo: Todd Cravens | Unsplash

"In the depths of the ocean, and out of sight for most of us, there's a quiet miracle happening. Many humpback whale populations, previously devastated by commercial whaling, are making a comeback. And no, before you ask, this has nothing to do with the coronavirus," writes Dr. Kirsten Thompson, a marine scientist at Exeter University in the U.K. Since commercial whaling was banned in 1986, the humpback population is now estimated to be at 93% of its original size. That recovery is good for the climate. The average single whale stores around 33 tons of carbon dioxide. When a whale dies naturally, the carbon stored in its gigantic body remains in the deep sea, keeping it locked up for centuries.

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