Carbon Dioxide Elimination from Oceans
The ocean, often seen as a vast expanse of blue, takes on a new role in the fight against climate change. According to experts, about 25% to 30% of the carbon dioxide (CO2) we emit annually is absorbed by our oceans. Here's a lowdown on how:
- Oceans as a Carbon Sink: The oceans act as a carbon sink, absorbing CO2 naturally through processes like diffusion and photosynthesis by organisms such as plankton.
- Impact Post-Industrial Revolution: Since the Industrial Revolution, the oceans have absorbed a whopping around 30% of all human-caused CO2 emissions.
However, this ability to absorb CO2 comes with a cost - ocean acidification. This process harms marine life and contributes to climate change.
Enter the SeaCURE project. Located on England's south coast, this Trailblazing carbon removal project dips into seawater to extract CO2, potentially paving the way for global carbon removal efforts.
- SeaCURE: A Game-Changer: Using an offshore pipe to draw seawater to a treatment facility, the SeaCURE pilot program works its magic. The water is acidified, causing the dissolved carbon to be released as gas. This gas is then captured using charred coconut husk filters before the treated, low-carbon water is returned to the ocean to continue its cycle.
- Breakthrough Potential: Even though the current pilot only removes around 100 metric tonnes of CO2 per year, the potential is huge. If 1% of the world's surface seawater were processed, this method could snatch up to 14 billion tonnes of CO2 annually!
With the hidden power of the oceans now on our side, the battle against climate change may just become a little less overwhelming. But remember, cutting greenhouse gas emissions remains paramount.
Sources: [1], [2], [3], [4], [5], [6]
- The process of ocean acidification, which harms marine life and contributes to climate change, is a cost associated with the oceans' role as a carbon sink.
- The SeaCURE project, located on England's south coast, uses an offshore pipe to extract CO2 from seawater, potentially marking a significant breakthrough in global carbon removal efforts.
- The SeaCURE pilot program works by acidifying seawater, causing the dissolved carbon to be released as gas, which is then captured using charred coconut husk filters.
- If 1% of the world's surface seawater were processed using this method, it could potentially remove up to 14 billion tonnes of CO2 annually, a huge potential in the fight against climate change.
