Science News Archive

Usa Carbon Sequestration Plan

America has steadfastly refused to sign up to the Kyoto agreement – a worldwide drive to cut carbon dioxide emissions from cars and industry to stop the acceleration of the greenhouse effect. Instead they are looking into the possibiility of sequestering carbon dioxide under the sea in geologic formations, or deep under the ocean. The plan involves capturing carbon dioxide emissions from power plants and injecting deep under the sea. But environmentalists are extremely concerned about the effects that this could have on the marine ecosystem, pointing out that shallow-living sea creatures like corals and molluscs are already being affected by high levels of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. This is because when carbon dioxide dissolves in water it produces an acid which can dissolve coral reefs and stop shellfish from producing shells. And deep-sea creatures may be even more sensitive suffering decreased growth and reproduction.

23rd Nov 2003