Ocean alkalinization is an approach to carbon removal that involves adding alkaline substances to seawater to enhance the oceans natural carbon sink. ocean in certain locations and/or times of year, thereby delaying equilibration (and as such CDR) for at least part of the added alkalinity. The report estimates $125 million to $200 million for research, including field and laboratory . An array of lab and field experiments are needed to fully understand the environmental impacts of, and species sensitivities to, alkalinity enhancement. One of the plans, referred to as ocean alkalinity enhancement, would involve grinding up igneous rocks that are found on shorelines around . Increasing ocean pH via alkalinity enhancement may then be directly beneficial for organisms that are vulnerable to ocean acidification. Cost estimates vary for different approaches. Below is a visual representation of key quantitative and qualitative results summarized by NASEM (2021, Table S.1 therein). These substances could include minerals, such as olivine, or artificial substances, such as lime or some industrial byproducts. Ocean alkalinity enhancement involves adding alkalinity to ocean waters, either by discharging alkaline rocks or through an electrochemical process, which increases ocean pH levels and thereby enables greater uptake of carbon dioxide, as well as reducing the adverse impacts of ocean acidification. The oceans already hold roughly 38,000 billion tons of carbon; their capacity to store additional carbon is, for practical purposes, unlimited. This technique mimics natural weathering processes but accelerates them by adding low doses of alkalinity to the ocean's surface, slightly increasing its pH and enhancing its ability to absorb CO 2 from the atmosphere. The report says there is high confidence in its efficacy. Once we . The experiment will run for ~5 weeks and we will monitor how the plankton community develops under the different alkalinity treatments. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. Ocean Alkalinity Enhancement Climate change is having an impact on across the world, and urgent action needs to be taken! This process occurs naturally over geologic time as alkalinity is produced through the slow weathering of rocks, such as limestone or basalt, and subsequent runoff of the alkaline molecules into the ocean. The oceans are the largest store of carbon on the earths surface, holding over 38,000 gigatonnes (billion tonnes) in their chemistry. Generally speaking, permitting of wastewater in Canada provides for this kind of addition limiting the change of pH to a maximum of 9 from the baseline of 8.1 in seawater. Enhance the understanding of sustainable Ocean Alkalinity Enhancement as a carbon dioxide removal (CDR) method. The governance of ocean alkalinity enhancement is also likely to be problematic, constrained by LC/LP regulation and strongly opposed by NGOs that reject climate interventions considered to interfere with nature. Ocean alkalinity plays a major role in ocean's carbon uptake, in buffering, and in calcium carbonate production and dissolution, and it impacts and is affected by various biogeochemical processes. An RFP for this effort will be published in the next few months. Distance between alkalinity sources and optimal distribution points could also be an influential factor. First, how much CO, An ocean sciences and modeling team that is resourced and empowered to work creatively and iteratively to systematically assesses whether OAE can safely, permanently, and cost-effectively sequester atmospheric CO. This process provides needed alkalinity and minerals to marine life especially anything that makes a shell. The cost of ocean alkalinity enhancement will vary depending on the alkalinity source, transport, and distribution methods of alkalinity in the ocean. The oceans are the largest store of carbon on the earth's surface, holding over 38,000 gigatonnes (billion tonnes) in their chemistry. One proposed ocean-based CDR technique is ocean alkalinity1 enhancement (OAE) (Figure 7.1), also termed enhanced weathering (EW), proposed by Kheshgi (1995). Specifically, following alkalinity addition, CO2 is converted into bicarbonate ions (HCO3) and carbonate ions (CO32), and these chemical changes lead to a rise in pH (Kheshgi, 1995; Gore et al., 2019). Development Gaps and Needs. The cost of ocean alkalinity enhancement will vary depending on the alkalinity source, transport, and distribution methods of alkalinity in the ocean. We recognize that modification of seawater carbonate chemistry may have undesired environmental impacts, and that further research may show that these outweigh the benefits of alkalinity enhancement in permanently removing CO2 from the atmosphere. As the expression suggests, ocean alkalinity management imitates naturally occurring phenomenasuch as erosion of calcium containing rocks from land to sea and dissolution of empty shells that reduce both ocean acidification and atmospheric CO 2 levels. Ocean Alkalinity Enhancement aims to replicate the rock weathering process and speed it up. Assessing Ocean Alkalinity Enhancement Through the Seasonality of the Mississippi River Alkalinity Flux. Despite global efforts to mitigate emissions and decarbonize the economy, it is unlikely that extreme ecosystem effects can be fully averted without carbon dioxide removal (CDR) mechanisms.This document makes an attempt at discussing current knowledge and knowledge gaps relating to the local and global application of ocean alkalinity . 2022 Ocean Visions, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Adding alkalinity via natural or enhanced weathering is counteracted by the precipitation of carbonate, which reduces alkalinity and, in todays ocean, is driven almost entirely by calcifying organisms. $397,716. It is also possible for alkalinity to be rapidly consumed by formation of secondary minerals such as clays and carbonates. These could have both positive and negative impacts on the marine ecosystem and change the composition of phytoplankton communities. brings together stakeholders to advance the state of knowledge, build bridges across disciplines, and help the community move towards safe and equitable testing and piloting of the most promising ocean-based CDR approaches. I did mention that this Biological Ocean Alkalinity Enhancement (BOAE) project "Hijacked" the biomineralization pathways. The knowledge base available for each method and . Expanding the Community for Ocean Solutions. OAE is i) the addition of alkaline materials such as ultramafic rocks and lime, and ii) electrochemical processes. There are two ways that the earth transfers carbon from the atmosphere to the ocean rock weathering and direct dissolution. The ocean is one of nature's largest carbon sinks, as it absorbs upwards of 30% of cumulative human emissions. The organisation, in partnership with Ocean Visions and a consortium of philanthropic funders, is offering funding for scientific teams to systematically assess whether OAE can safely, permanently and cost-effectively sequester atmospheric CO2 at scale. There are several ways to add alkalinity to the ocean. A cohort of technology innovation teams that build proof-of-concept prototypes for cost-effective, scalable, and reliable OAE deployment, including monitoring, reporting, and verification hardware. Posted on March 13, 2020by julia This is a useful synthesis of current knowledge on ocean alkalinity enhancement, an approach to carbon removal that could have far-reaching effects (both positive and negative) on the ocean and coastal communities. 0. . Currently, most efforts to address climate change are focused on reducing emissions of greenhouse gases. Our planet is being transformed by climate disruption, with some of the worst impacts occurring in the ocean. That is, the technologies to extract, process, and transport minerals are all mature, but research on ocean alkalinization remains mostly at the level of theoretical work and laboratory experiments, with a few coastal experiments in development. These substances could include minerals, such as olivine, or artificial substances, such as lime or some industrial byproducts. "Enhanced Weathering (EW)" and "Ocean Alkalinity Enhancement (OAE)" are two related NETs which are among the options to realize CDR ( Figure 1 ). This amounts to capturing carbon dioxide and trapping it back in mineral form. The report estimates $125 . Formation of these clays reduces the efficiency of ocean alkalinity enhancement, e.g. These factors include location (e.g., physical and biogeochemical environment where the alkalinity is added) and the mode, frequency, and rate of alkalinity addition. The goal of ocean alkalinity enhancement is to accelerate the carbon-absorbing weathering of rock, which naturally occurs as rainfall washes over land into waterways and eventually the ocean.. Adding alkalinity to the ocean converts dissolved inorganic CO2 in seawater into bicarbonates and carbonates, which are stable forms of carbon with a lifetime of approximately 10,000 years. Billions of tons of alkaline minerals such as olivine, basalt, and carbonate are readily available to be mined and could be applied to beaches or the open ocean. We must also clean up the legacy greenhouse gas pollution already in our atmosphere. Ren. Adding alkalinity to seawater to capture CO 2. While those efforts remain vital, theyre no longer enough. The OAE R&D Program is designed to be ambitious, rigorous, collaborative, and fast-paced. Download an overview of the Ocean Alkalinity Enhancement R&D Program. Can OAE be cost-effectively deployed at scale? As ocean-based CO2removal has attracted more interest, OAE has emerged as a particularly intriguing approach. Abstract. CLOSED Ocean Alkalinity Enhancement Engineering Award. The ocean covers more than 70 percent of the planet. . This would lead to a build-up of calcium,. Seaweed cultivation involves the growing of . The Ocean Alkalinity Enhancement R&D Program is an ambitious effort to evaluate the technical feasibility of alkalinity enhancement as an efficient method for sequestering atmospheric CO2, and to identify under what conditions it could be deployed safely. For the chemical binding of carbon dioxide, alkaline substances, for example silicate or lime, are discharged directly into the surface water of the ocean. These are artificial upwelling (AU), ocean iron fertilization (OIF), ocean alkalinity enhancement (OAE), and ocean afforestation (Fig. In the absence of data from mesocosm and field trials, it is difficult to predict these changes and to develop meaningful frameworks for monitoring, reporting and verification (MRV). Ocean alkalinity enhancement is an approach to carbon removal that involves adding alkaline substances to seawater to accelerate the oceans natural carbon sink. Download a PDF of "A Research Strategy for Ocean-based Carbon Dioxide Removal and Sequestration" by the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine for free. Award Amount. CEA Consulting have put forward a thorough examination of ocean alkalinity enhancement, raising awareness about this process and its ability to remove atmospheric carbon dioxide. Ocean alkalinity enhancement is a particularly promising ocean CDR approach. Current concern about the accelerated rate of carbon dioxide (CO2) diffusion from the atmosphere into the surface ocean has prompted the marine scientific community to explore ocean CO2 removal (CDR) approaches. When alkalinity increases in seawater, dissolved CO2is chemically transformed to bicarbonate and carbonate ions. An increase in ocean alkalinity could be achieved by dissolving rocks and minerals either directly in the open ocean or through engineered systems. Two pathways holding significant potential for CDR are together known as ocean alkalinity enhancement (OAE). Then, to simulate ocean alkalinity enhancement, we added different amounts of carbonates to each mesocosm to increase alkalinity - except for one, which we left as an untreated control. Ocean Visions ocean-based CDR road maps provide overviews of potential technologies, obstacles they face, and first-order priorities needing attention to advance the field. Studying its stability after application in multiple experimental . "However, this would also release substances that would enter the marine environment, either by leaching into waterways from Enhanced Weathering on land or by being directly added through Ocean. Copyright 2022 Additional Ventures. Ocean alkalinization is an approach to carbon removal that involves adding alkaline substances to seawater to enhance the ocean's natural carbon sink. Ocean Alkalinity Enhancement (OAE) may be a relatively safe way of storing CO 2 in the ocean, potentially for thousands of years. Negative CO2 Emissions via Enhanced Silicate Weathering in Coastal Environments. 3 and Table 1). Carbonic acid dissociates into bicarbonate ions (HCO Ocean alkalinity enhancement carries medium environmental risks and medium to high scale-up costs. The BOAE project uses biological materials and nature inspired strategies to capture, concentrate and sequester CO2. To date, most attention has been paid to terrestrial EW applications (Khler et al., 2010; Schuiling and Tickell, 2010; Hartmann et al., 2013), with potential co-benefits in addition to CDR including stabilization of soil pH, addition of micronutrients, and crop fertilization (e.g., Manning, 2010). Ocean alkalinity enhancement involves adding alkalinity to ocean waters, either by discharging alkaline rocks or through an electrochemical process, which increases ocean pH levels and thereby enables greater uptake of carbon dioxide, as well as reducing the adverse impacts of ocean acidification. Additional Ventures is committed to funding R&D in a responsible manner that accords with all applicable laws and regulations. Ocean Visions believes that we may be able to harness the power of the ocean to restore the climateandthe ocean itself. In the absence of data from mesocosm and field trials, it is difficult to predict these changes and to develop meaningful frameworks for monitoring, reporting and verification (MRV). Environmental impacts Ocean Ocean Alkalinity Enhancement directly counters the changes in seawater chemistry brought on by ocean acidification. 2022. If youd like to stay informed, send us an email at climate@additionalventures.org. Ocean Alkalinity Enhancement This approach chemically alters ocean water to increase its alkalinity in order to enhance reactions that take up atmospheric CO2. Ocean-based approaches were beyond the scope of the NASEM study, posing the risk of delayed maturation in this area, and a reduction in the total CDR achievable by 2100. , Renforth, P., B.G. September 01, 2020 to May 31, 2023. The research will remain within safe limits. Institute for Carbon Removal Law & Policy on Facebook, Institute for Carbon Removal Law & Policy on Twitter, Institute for Carbon Removal Law & Policy on LinkedIn, Institute for Carbon Removal Law & Policy on Instagram, Professional Studies and Executive Education, Assessing Ocean Alkalinity for Carbon Sequestration. TECHNICAL ASPECTS OF OCEAN ALKALINITY ENHANCEMENT Ocean alkalinty increases with excess atmospheric CO 2 When excess atmospheric CO 2 passively diffuses into the ocean, much of that CO 2 is quickly hydrated to form carbonic acid. Testing ocean alkalinity enhancement as a method to restore ecosystem services impacted by ocean acidification. Over hundreds of thousands of years, the carbonate species end up at the bottom of the ocean where they form carbonate rock. . Direct dissolution of CO2 is far less of a beneficial process than rock weathering. Ocean Alkalinity Enhancement is the process of increasing the pH of the ocean very slightly with the goal of enhancing the ability of the ocean to absorb and safely lock away carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. , , , , . so, then this alkalinity can be produced in vast quantities in the ocean dead zones and distributed across the ocean's surface. All rights reserved. a news stream provided by the Ocean Acidification International Coordination Center (OA-ICC). To remove the maximum amount of CO from the atmosphere, that alkalinity needs to persist in seawater. 7 Ocean Alkalinity Enhancement: 181-208: 8 Electrochemical Engineering Approaches: 209-238: 9 Synthesis and Research Strategy: 239-264: References: 265-296: Acronyms and . Ocean alkalinity enhancement (OAE) is a proposed method to counteract climate change by increasing the alkalinity of the surface ocean and thus the chemical storage capacity of seawater for atmospheric CO 2.The impact of OAE on marine ecosystems, including phytoplankton communities which make up the base of the marine food web, are largely unknown. Any MRV framework will have to focus on two major questions however. The . Seaweed cultivation involves the growing of . At the request of the marine philanthropic funder Oceankind, CEA Consulting organized a convening of a dozen experts in the field, as well as a handful of philanthropic donors seeking to better understand the potential and limitations of ocean alkalinity enhancement (OAE). Ocean Alkalinity Enhancement (OAE) has been proposed as a method to remove carbon dioxide (CO 2) from the atmosphere and to counteract ocean acidification. Like it or not, as Bach et al. The mission of Ocean Visions is to develop innovative and durable solutions to complex challenges facing our ocean. Among various ocean negative-carbon-emission approaches or ocean-based carbon dioxide removal (CDR) technologies, ocean alkalinity enhancement (OAE) is an approach that will decrease sea surface p CO 2 via the addition of alkaline materials and promote CO 2 uptake from the atmosphere. This mildly alkaline water flows out through rivers and streams into the oceans. Estimated costs for the various methods, while highly uncertain, generally range from $70160 per ton of CO2, but net costs may be as low as $3 per ton for methods that produce hydrogen as a byproduct. This alkalinity is then moved to the ocean and is used to enhance the oceans natural alkalinity. Award Period. This approach is broadly inspired by Earth's modulation of alkalinity on geological timescales. CO2 removal with enhanced weathering and ocean alkalinity enhancement: Potential risks and co-benefits for marine pelagic ecosystems. Ocean Alkalinity Enhancement This approach chemically alters ocean water to increase its alkalinity in order to enhance reactions that take up atmospheric CO2. Note that some of the most cost-effective and scalable electrochemical processes described in NASEM (2021) increase the alkalinity of seawater, and/or force the precipitation of solid alkaline materials that can be used for OAE. One idea is ocean alkalinity enhancement - adding minerals like olivine or other alkaline substances to the ocean that react with CO2 to form bicarbonate ions, which once again causes the ocean to take up more CO2 from the atmosphere. These include spreading finely ground alkaline substances over the open ocean, depositing alkaline sand or gravel on beaches or coastal seabeds, and reacting seawater with alkaline minerals inside specialized fuel cells before releasing it back into the ocean. And the best part is this. This is a useful synthesis of current knowledge on ocean alkalinity enhancement, an approach to carbon removal that could have far-reaching effects (both positive and negative) on the ocean and coastal communities. First, how much CO2 is permanently moved from the atmosphere to the ocean and how quickly does this happen (carbon accounting)? 2022 Ocean Alkalinity in Bedford Basin, It produces a very pure form of alkalinity, ensuring that no biologically active or toxic byproducts are added to the ocean, The alkalinity is highly insoluble in seawater which limits the amount that it can change the chemistry of the local ocean even if theres a spill, it wont change the pH of seawater beyond safe ranges, It produces alkalinity whose cation the ion that comes with it is already abundant in seawater chemistry this is not a new substance for the ocean. This transformation can help de-acidify seawater, turning the chemical clock of the ocean back to pre-industrial times. When the concentration of CO2 in the ocean is less than the concentration of CO2 in the air, the greenhouse gas dissolves into the water. Developing the most efficient deployment strategy requires identifying and understanding the main factors that will impact CDR efficacy. Distance between alkalinity sources and optimal distribution points could also be an influential factor. Calcium oxide is created when temperatures of ca. Additional Ventures is partnering with Ocean Visions and a consortium of philanthropic funders to invite pre-proposals to develop prototypes that could enable safe, cost-efficient, and scalable OAE.. Ocean Alkalinity Enhancement is not limited by mineral resources, but rather by the ability to scale up extraction or production of alkaline materials. Duties include laboratory work with pilot-scale alkalinity reactors to understand key processes for sustainable alkalinity production to be distributed in seawater. For this reason, Planetary is developing a detailed framework aimed at ensuring alkalinity addition at any site is preceded by detailed research and . Jenkins & T. Kruger. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) suggests that even aggressive mitigation measures to reduce CO, The ocean already contains 50 times more CO, Developing the most efficient deployment strategy requires identifying and understanding the main factors that will impact CDR efficacy. despite global efforts to mitigate emissions and decarbonize the economy, it is unlikely that extreme ecosystem effects can be fully averted without carbon dioxide removal (cdr) mechanisms.this document makes an attempt at discussing current knowledge and knowledge gaps relating to the local and global application of ocean alkalinity enhancement Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window), Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window), Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window), Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window), Click to share on Tumblr (Opens in new window), Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window), Effects of shellfish and macro-algae IMTA in North China on the environment, inorganic carbon system, organic carbon system, and seaair CO2fluxes, Commentary: overstated potential for seagrass meadows to mitigate coastal ocean acidification, A research strategy for ocean-based carbon dioxide removal and sequestration, The effect of carbon dioxide on brine shrimp, Characterization of undocumented CO2hydrothermal vents in the Mediterranean Sea: implications for ocean acidification studies, Impacts of global environmental change on fish and fisheries of the Northeastern Pacific Ocean, Nuclear technology can help mitigate ocean acidification caused by climate change. Much research remains to be done to assess the efficacy and side effects of various approaches. 2. A research strategy for ocean-based carbon dioxide removal and sequestration, pp 181-208. Vesta is tackling the dual problem of shoreline erosion due to sea level rise and carbon emissions reduction with olivine . One of the many CDR approaches we are exploring is managing ocean alkalinity. Alkaline molecules are a natural part of the ocean and its processes, but they are produced slowlyover hundreds to thousands of yearsas rock on land is weathered and the minerals are . The program includes three pillars: An ocean sciences and modeling team that is resourced and empowered to work creatively and iteratively to systematically assesses whether OAE can safely, permanently, and cost-effectively sequester atmospheric CO2 at scale.. This process will make a minor change to the local pH in the waters receiving the alkalinity. Impacts on human industry. The report says there is high confidence in its efficacy. In this consensus report, OAE stands out as a potentially efficient and highly scalable CDR pathway that permanently sequesters CO2. Getting the CO2 to . We may be able to greatly enhance this process via human-caused additions of alkaline material. However, a critical knowledge gap exists regarding their dissolution in natural seawater. We believe that OAE R&D needs to be conducted with a prudent, step-by-step approach and that the nature, scale, duration, and intensity of experimentation and technology development should be proportionate to the current state of knowledge about potential adverse effects. As Tim Flannery puts it, you can consider the ocean as a mirror of the atmosphere when it comes to CO2. Land-based CDR methods such as afforestation or bioenergy with carbon capture and storage have received much attention recently. Increasing ocean pH via alkalinity enhancement may then be directly beneficial for organisms that are vulnerable to ocean acidification. Priority questions for this request for proposals include: The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) suggests that even aggressive mitigation measures to reduce CO2 emissions will have to be complemented with carbon dioxide removal (CDR) on the order of 1001000 billion tons of CO2 before the end of the 21st century to avert the worst consequences of climate change. There are different ways to add alkalinity to the ocean. CDR inefficiencies and challenges around carbon accounting stem from processes that occur once the alkalinity source is added to the seawater. These factors include location (e.g., physical and biogeochemical environment where the alkalinity is added) and the mode, frequency, and rate of alkalinity addition. Seaweed cultivation involves the growing of . However, weathering of alkaline minerals like olivine releases byproducts such as silica, magnesium, and trace metals. The road maps are intended to catalyze global collaboration and engagement and will be updated and refined as advances emerge in science, technology, governance, and policy. In theory, ocean alkalinization could remove many billions of tons of CO2 per year, limited mainly by the extraction, processing, and application of alkaline substances: each ton of removal through ocean alkalinization requires processing roughly 13.5 tons of material. This enhanced weathering could theoretically increase CO, Ocean alkalinity enhancement may counter ocean acidification the change in seawater chemistry that has been caused by absorption of anthropogenic CO. pollution into the upper layer of the ocean. provide overviews of potential technologies, obstacles they face, and first-order priorities needing attention to advance the field. The good news is that this process will solve climate change. Adding alkalinity to the ocean removes carbon dioxide (CO2) from the atmosphere through a series of reactions that convert dissolved CO2 into stable bicarbonate and carbonate molecules, which in turn causes the ocean to absorb more CO2 from the air to restore equilibrium. This limit is also appropriate for seawater since it ensures that there are no significant chemical changes (such as precipitation) in the receiving waters. Ocean alkalinity enhancement is increasements in the ocean's alkalinity via the exposure of large quantities of reactive minerals to carbon dioxide in the atmosphere.
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