Ocean iron fertilization to counteract global warming
A recent article online at the BBC — which has wonderful science reporting, by the way — reports on a major geo-engineering scheme getting some increased attention: ocean iron fertilization.
A nice description of the iron fertilization process after the jump.
Using algae as a “biological carbon pump” has been touted as one of the more promising “geo-engineering” schemes for mitigating global warming.
Plankton act as a natural sponge for carbon dioxide – drawing the greenhouse gas down out of the atmosphere and into the sea.
When plankton die, they sink to the bottom of the ocean, locking away some of the carbon they have absorbed.
Experiments suggest that “seeding” oceans with iron can stimulate the growth of plankton – particularly waters which are rich in nutrients.
But exactly how much carbon sinks to the sea floor, and how long it remains locked away, is still unknown.
Like most other geo-engineering schemes at this point, much more research — especially on the environmental impact of, say, fertilizing the ocean with iron or injecting sulfur into the stratosphere — is needed. But geo-engineering is nonetheless generating more interest in policy circles as a potential method for counteracting global warming. Check back here for more on geo-engineering as part of a longer piece I’m currently working on.
