A large research project was carried out in the oceans surrounding Antarctica to learn whether adding iron-containing compounds to the iron-limited polar sea would enhance the growth of phytoplankton (small, free-floating photosynthetic organisms). This project was performed with the hope that if plankton growth were significantly increased over large areas, it might slow global warming. What is the basis for such an expectation?

The global warming may be defined as the increase in the earth's temperature due to the increase in the green house gases. The major green house gases are carbon dioxide, methane and hydrogen.

The plants has the ability to absorb the carbon dioxide gas. The phytoplankton growth acts as the sponges. The main function of this sponge will acts as the carbon sink for the amount of carbon dioxide present in atmosphere and reduces global warming.