Rationale Ocean fertilization

co

2 sequestration in ocean

the marine food chain based on photosynthesis marine phytoplankton combine carbon inorganic nutrients produce organic matter. production limited availability of nutrients, commonly nitrogen or iron. numerous experiments have demonstrated how iron fertilization can increase phytoplankton productivity. nitrogen limiting nutrient on of ocean , can supplied various sources, including fixation cyanobacteria. carbon-to-iron ratios in phytoplankton larger carbon-to-nitrogen or carbon-to-phosphorus ratios, iron has highest potential sequestration per unit mass added.

oceanic carbon naturally cycles between surface , deep via 2 pumps of similar scale. solubility pump driven ocean circulation , solubility of co2 in seawater. biological pump driven phytoplankton , subsequent settling of detrital particles or dispersion of dissolved organic carbon. the former has increased result of increasing atmospheric co2 concentration. co2 sink estimated approximately 2 gtc yr−1.

fertilization offers prospect of both reducing concentration of atmospheric greenhouse gases aim of slowing climate change , @ same time increasing fish stocks via increasing primary production.

each area of ocean has base sequestration rate on timescale, e.g., annual. fertilization must increase rate, must on scale beyond natural scale. otherwise, fertilization changes timing, not total amount sequestered. however, accelerated timing may have beneficial effects primary production separate sequstration.

biomass production inherently depletes resources (save sun , water). either must subject fertilization or sequestration limited 1 replenished (after number of cycles) unless ultimate limiting resource sunlight and/or surface area. generally, phosphate ultimate limiting nutrient. oceanic phosphorus depleted (via sequestration) have included in fertilization cocktail supplied terrestrial sources.