The biological pump transports 1–4 g C m y of POC below the thermocline annually. The export flux of POC in the temperate North Atlantic out of the surface waters was found to be 29 ± 10 g C m y. However, studies have shown that processes such as consumption and remineralization contribute to a significant amount of this POC being attenuated as it sinks below the thermocline (near overwintering depths of ~1000 m). Furthermore, the remaining quantity of carbon in the North Atlantic from the export of POC below the thermocline has been calculated (2–8 g C m y) to be comparable to the seasonal migration of C. finmarchicus in the North Atlantic (1–4 g C m y) through the lipid pump. Therefore, the lipid pump may contribute 50–100% of C sequestration to the biological pump as net transport that has not been included in its current estimates.