Carbonate The Ocean

Bonker writes: "This article at Salon indicates that scientists in Norway are setting up an experiment to inject massive amounts of C02 into the deep ocean near the Artic circle. They hope that they can prove that C02 can be stored in the ocean rather than in the atmosphere where it contributes to global warming, but the question remains -- can fishies swim in club soda?"

Comments

A large test is needed...

[StaticLimit]

You know, I'm not entirely sure if nuclear fallout could cause a "nuclear winter". Perhaps a "large test" is needed to validate this.

And I've HEARD that complete deforestation of the Amazon could impact the oxygen supply significantly. Perhaps a "large test" would help prove this false as well?

My point is, when we don't know how this will "affect sea life", a "large test" is probably the LAST thing we should be trying.

- StaticLimit

Is Norway really that far behind??

[CrudPuppy]

It is a very well-known fact that the ocean plays a major part in the natural CO2 cycle of the earth. Where water is colder, CO2 is readily absorbed (CO2 absorbs into cold water, an comes out of hot water). This can either take place in regions where the water is chronically colder (e.g. the arctic) or where there is a lot of vertical turbulence going on, causing deeper, colder water to continually come in contact with the atmosphere.

The only thing that is new here is the fact that they want to stimulate further absorption by injecting it. The only problem with this is that they will have to pump it *very* deep to get to water that is cold enough to make this process as efficient as possible.

Even carrying this out with stunning efficiency, it is doubtful they will *ever* be able to pump enough CO2 out of the atmosphere to make a tiny dent globally... and NO, this will also never be enough to disrupt the highly buffered pH of the ocean.