Ocean Fertilization - CCUS Terms

Description:
Ocean Fertilization is a geoengineering technique that involves adding nutrients, such as iron or nitrogen, to the ocean to stimulate the growth of phytoplankton. These microscopic plants absorb carbon dioxide (CO₂) from the atmosphere through photosynthesis and can sequester carbon when they die and sink to the ocean floor.

Explanation:
In the context of Carbon Capture, Utilization, and Storage (CCUS), ocean fertilization aims to enhance the ocean’s natural capacity to absorb and store CO₂, thereby reducing atmospheric carbon levels. Here’s how ocean fertilization works and its importance within the broader CCUS framework:

• Carbon Capture. Phytoplankton, like terrestrial plants, absorb CO2 from the atmosphere during photosynthesis. By increasing phytoplankton populations through nutrient addition, more CO2 can be drawn down from the atmosphere into the ocean.
• Utilization. While the primary focus of ocean fertilization is carbon capture, the increased biomass of phytoplankton can potentially support marine food chains, which could have implications for fisheries and marine biodiversity. However, the utilization aspects are secondary and not the primary motivation for ocean fertilization initiatives.
• Storage. The carbon captured by phytoplankton may become part of the marine carbon cycle. When phytoplankton die, some of the carbon they have assimilated sinks to the deep ocean as part of marine snow, potentially sequestering it for centuries. This process is part of what is known as the biological pump in oceanography.

Advantages:
Ocean fertilization offers significant advantages in the context of Carbon Capture, Utilization, and Storage (CCUS) by enhancing the ocean’s natural carbon sequestration capacity, thereby helping to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and supporting international climate goals like the Paris Agreement. This process leverages the ocean’s natural biological mechanisms to sequester carbon, providing an effective and scalable solution for carbon capture. Additionally, clear and transparent fertilization processes help build public trust and acceptance of geoengineering projects, ensuring community support and participation in carbon sequestration initiatives.

Challenges:
Ocean fertilization faces several challenges, including the potential unintended consequences on marine ecosystems that must be carefully studied and managed to avoid harming marine life or disrupting oceanic processes, which is crucial for sustainability. Additionally, implementing and monitoring ocean fertilization projects can be technically complex and require significant expertise, necessitating that these processes are based on sound science and engineering principles to ensure success. Furthermore, navigating regulatory requirements and ethical considerations related to geoengineering can be difficult, making clear and supportive policies, along with ethical guidelines, essential for fostering responsible development and deployment of ocean fertilization technologies.

In summary, Ocean Fertilization is a geoengineering approach that aims to enhance the ocean’s natural carbon sequestration capabilities. By promoting phytoplankton growth and subsequent carbon sequestration, it helps reduce greenhouse gas emissions and contributes to global efforts to mitigate climate change.