The Advantages, Limitations, and the Future of Marine Carbon Dioxide Removal (mCDR) Techniques
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.58445/rars.2016Keywords:
Ocean fertilization, Artificial upwelling, Artificial downwelling, Ocean alkalinity enhancement, Coastal blue carbon, Direct ocean air captureAbstract
This review provides a comprehensive analysis of marine carbon dioxide removal (mCDR) methods aimed at combating climate change. This paper examines a range of techniques, including ocean fertilization, artificial upwelling and downwelling, ocean alkalinity enhancement, coastal blue carbon ecosystem restoration, and direct ocean air capture (DOAC). Each method is evaluated based on its technical feasibility, scalability, costs, and potential environmental impacts. The discussion highlights ocean fertilization’s ability to stimulate phytoplankton growth for carbon uptake, balanced by ecological risks such as the potential for harmful algal blooms. Artificial upwelling and downwelling, while promising in theory, face uncertainties regarding their effectiveness and ecological consequences. Ocean alkalinity enhancement emerges as a viable long-term solution for carbon storage, although the high cost presents significant challenges. The restoration of coastal blue carbon ecosystems is recognized for its dual benefits of carbon sequestration and ecosystem service provision, albeit with limitations in scalability. DOAC is assessed for its high potential for durability and scalability, though it currently encounters economic barriers and environmental concerns. This paper underscores the necessity for robust monitoring and verification systems to evaluate the performance of mCDR techniques effectively. It advocates for an integrated approach that combines multiple mCDR strategies to maximize carbon removal while minimizing ecological risks, emphasizing the need for ongoing research and technological advancements to enhance the viability of marine carbon removal in addressing global climate challenges.
References
Alongi, D. M. (2020). Global Significance of Mangrove Blue Carbon in Climate Change Mitigation. Sci, 2(3), 67. https://doi.org/10.3390/sci2030067
Ametistova, L., Twidell, J., & Briden, J. (2002). The sequestration switch: removing industrial CO2 by direct ocean absorption. Science of the Total Environment, 289(1), 213–223. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0048-9697(01)01048-8
Aumont, O., & Bopp, L. (2006). Globalizing results from ocean in situ iron fertilization studies. Global Biogeochemical Cycles, 20(2), n/a-n/a. https://doi.org/10.1029/2005gb002591
Bijma, J., Pörtner, Hans-O., Yesson, C., & Rogers, A. D. (2013). Climate change and the oceans – What does the future hold? Marine Pollution Bulletin, 74(2), 495–505. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marpolbul.2013.07.022
Coastal Blue Carbon. (2014). Noaa.gov. https://oceanservice.noaa.gov/ecosystems/coastal-blue-carbon/?n=@
Cross, J., Gledhill, D., Sweeney, C., Butler, J., Jewett, E., Feely, R., Theuerkauf, S., Stein, T., Kitch, G., Alin, S., Barbero, L., Briggs, R., Carter, B., Chu, S., Dunne, J., John, J., Harris, J., Hollarsmith, J., Krepp, A., & Longmire, K. (2022). NOAA Carbon Dioxide Removal Research: A White Paper documenting a Potential NOAA CDR Science Strategy as an element of NOAA’s Climate Mitigation Portfolio Executive Writing Team: NOAA National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) NOAA National Ocean Service (NOS) NOAA Affiliates. https://sciencecouncil.noaa.gov/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/Clean-copy-of-Draft-CDR-Research-Strategy.pdf
Emerson, S., & Hedges, J. (2008). Chemical Oceanography and the Marine Carbon Cycle. Cambridge University Press.
Hardy, J. T. (2003). Climate change : causes, effects, and solutions. J. Wiley.
Hartmann, J., Suitner, N., Lim, C., Schneider, J., Marín-Samper, L., Arístegui, J., Renforth, P., Taucher, J., & Riebesell, U. (2023). Stability of alkalinity in ocean alkalinity enhancement (OAE) approaches – consequences for durability of CO2 storage. Biogeosciences, 20(4), 781–802. https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-20-781-2023
Hoegh-Guldberg, O., & Poloczanska, E. S. (2017). Editorial: The Effect of Climate Change across Ocean Regions. Frontiers in Marine Science, 4. https://doi.org/10.3389/fmars.2017.00361
IPCC. (2023). CLIMATE CHANGE 2023 Synthesis Report A Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. https://www.ipcc.ch/report/ar6/syr/downloads/report/IPCC_AR6_SYR_FullVolume.pdf
Jayarathna, C., Maelum, M., Karunarathne, S., Andrenacci, S., & Haugen, H. A. (2022). Review on direct ocean capture (DOC) technologies. SSRN Electronic Journal. https://doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.4282969
Lindsey, R. (2024, April 9). Climate Change: Atmospheric Carbon Dioxide. Climate.gov; National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. https://www.climate.gov/news-features/understanding-climate/climate-change-atmospheric-carbon-dioxide
Liu, S., Zhao, L., Xiao, C., Fan, W., Cai, Y., Pan, Y., & Chen, Y. (2020). Review of Artificial Downwelling for Mitigating Hypoxia in Coastal Waters. Water, 12(10), 2846. https://doi.org/10.3390/w12102846
Mimura, N. (2013). Sea-level rise caused by climate change and its implications for society. Proceedings of the Japan Academy, Series B, 89(7), 281–301. https://doi.org/10.2183/pjab.89.281
Mitchell, J. F. B. (1989). The “Greenhouse” effect and climate change. Reviews of Geophysics, 27(1), 115–139. https://doi.org/10.1029/rg027i001p00115
NASA. (2013, August 29). Graphic: The relentless rise of carbon dioxide. Science.nasa.gov. https://science.nasa.gov/resource/graphic-the-relentless-rise-of-carbon-dioxide/
NASEM Committee. (2022). A Research Strategy for Ocean-based Carbon Dioxide Removal and Sequestration. National Academies Press. https://doi.org/10.17226/26278
Ocean Fertilization – OceanNETs. (n.d.). Www.oceannets.eu. https://www.oceannets.eu/ocean-fertilization/
Ocean Visions | mCDR Field Trial Database. (2024, September 9). Ocean Visions. https://oceanvisions.org/mcdr-field-trials/
Oschlies, A., Bach, L. T., Rosalind, Satterfield, T., Webb, R., & Gattuso, J. (2023). Climate targets, carbon dioxide removal, and the potential role of ocean alkalinity enhancement. State of the Planet, 2-oae2023, 1–9. https://doi.org/10.5194/sp-2-oae2023-1-2023
Oschlies, A., Pahlow, M., Yool, A., & Matear, R. J. (2010). Climate engineering by artificial ocean upwelling: Channelling the sorcerer’s apprentice. Geophysical Research Letters, 37(4). https://doi.org/10.1029/2009gl041961
Rise of Carbon Dioxide Unabated. (2020, June 4). Scripps Institution of Oceanography. https://scripps.ucsd.edu/news/rise-carbon-dioxide-unabated
Siikamäki, J., Sanchirico, J. N., Jardine, S., McLaughlin, D., & Morris, D. (2013). Blue Carbon: Coastal Ecosystems, Their Carbon Storage, and Potential for Reducing Emissions. Environment: Science and Policy for Sustainable Development, 55(6), 14–29. https://doi.org/10.1080/00139157.2013.843981
United Nations Treaty Collection. (2015). UNTC. Un.org. https://treaties.un.org/pages/ViewDetails.aspx?src=TREATY&mtdsg_no=XXVII-7-d&chapter=27&clang=_en
US EPA. (2017, January 23). Climate Change Indicators: Atmospheric Concentrations of Greenhouse Gases | US EPA. US EPA. https://www.epa.gov/climate-indicators/climate-change-indicators-atmospheric-concentrations-greenhouse-gases
Downloads
Posted
Categories
License
Copyright (c) 2024 Connor Chang
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.