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The Environment / How could CO2 be sequestered underwater?
« on: 06/01/2009 16:21:31 »
I read in the newspaper that scientists have figured out another way to trap CO2 under the sea from the atmosphere.
The research goes that as the ice caps are melting, there seems to be tiny iron particles in the ice which are melted back into the ocean.
The algae then "eats" the iron particles and blooms, resulting in them rising to the surface of the sea.
The risen algae photosynthesises and takes in Carbon Dioxide.
The algae then sinks to the ground, and stays there for a couple of hundred years!
Well, it seems that the Earth is trying to help itself, and that the CO2 which is taken in from the algae is actually a large proportion.
However, scientists and researchers are figuring out whether they should place tons of iron into the sea, making the algae bloom and thrive to the surface of the sea. Good idea it seems.
But they are worried that the placing of iron in the sea will destroy the natural ecosystem. More iron particles means more algae, which means more fishies that thrive on algae.. and etc etc...
What shall we do?!
Seems a pretty good idea.. but the ecosystem!
The research goes that as the ice caps are melting, there seems to be tiny iron particles in the ice which are melted back into the ocean.
The algae then "eats" the iron particles and blooms, resulting in them rising to the surface of the sea.
The risen algae photosynthesises and takes in Carbon Dioxide.
The algae then sinks to the ground, and stays there for a couple of hundred years!
Well, it seems that the Earth is trying to help itself, and that the CO2 which is taken in from the algae is actually a large proportion.
However, scientists and researchers are figuring out whether they should place tons of iron into the sea, making the algae bloom and thrive to the surface of the sea. Good idea it seems.
But they are worried that the placing of iron in the sea will destroy the natural ecosystem. More iron particles means more algae, which means more fishies that thrive on algae.. and etc etc...
What shall we do?!
Seems a pretty good idea.. but the ecosystem!