Green Options » ocean fertilization

Germany Suspends Controversial Ocean Fertilization Plan

Timothy B. Hurst — Thu, 15 Jan 2009 10:32:11 +0000

Bowing to pressure from environmental groups, the German science ministry has suspended a planned ocean fertilization experiment in the Southern Ocean and asked the researchers to commission an independent analysis of the project’s environmental impact before dumping anything in the ocean.

Even though the nearly fifty scientists and crew aboard the icebreaker Polarstern will reach their destination in the Scotia Sea by the end of this week, Nature News reports they will not be dumping the ship’s payload - at least not yet.

Green Algae Bloom Process Could Stop Global Warming

Andrew Williams — Sun, 04 Jan 2009 21:08:40 +0000

A team of UK scientists have discovered a natural process that could delay, or even end, the threat of global warming.

The researchers, aboard the Royal Navy’s HMS Endurance, have found that melting icebergs off the coast of Antarctica are releasing millions of tiny particles of iron into the southern Ocean, helping to create huge ‘blooms’ of algae that absorb carbon emissions. The algae then sinks to the icy depths, effectively removing CO2 from the atmosphere for hundreds of years.

According to lead researcher, Prof. Rob Raiswell of Leeds University, “The Earth itself seems to want to save us.”

Fertilizing The Ocean – Great Idea or Eco Disaster?

mcmilker — Mon, 31 Mar 2008 12:39:26 +0000

Can selling carbon credits to finance “ocean fertilization” solve global warming?

Greenpeace calls it “irresponsible” but, a variety of companies including, Climos, a San Francisco start-up, have raised a enough venture capital to give it a try. By drizzling an iron slurry across a stretch of ocean the company will leave a bloom of phytoplankton in its wake and hopefully take a small step toward solving global warming.