Feasibility of Large-Scale Ocean CO2 Sequestration

Brewer, Peter ; Barry, James

Monterey Bay Aquarium Res Inst

关键词: Sediments;    Carbon Dioxide;    Dissolution;    Seawater;    Geochemistry;   

DOI  :  10.2172/897711
RP-ID  :  None
RP-ID  :  FC26-00NT40929
RP-ID  :  897711

美国|英语

来源: UNT Digital Library

【 摘 要 】

Direct ocean injection of CO{sub 2} is one of several approaches under consideration to sequester carbon dioxide in order to stabilize atmospheric CO{sub 2} near 550 ppm (2X preindustrial CO{sub 2} levels). Without significant efforts to stabilize greenhouse gas emissions, the Earth is expected to experience extreme climate warming consequences associated with the projected high ({approx}3-4X preindustrial) atmospheric CO{sub 2} levels in the next 100 to 200 years. Research funded by DOE-Office of Fossil Energy under this award is based on the development of novel experimental methods by MBARI to deploy small quantities (5-45 l) of liquid CO{sub 2} in the deep-sea for the purposes of investigating the fundamental science underlying the concepts of ocean CO{sub 2} sequestration. This project is linked closely with studies funded by the Office of Science and the Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute (MBARI). The objectives of studies in marine chemistry funded by the Office of Fossil Energy and MBARI are to: (1) Determine the long term fate of CO{sub 2} hydrate in the deep-sea, (2) Investigate the geochemical changes in marine sediments and pore waters associated with CO{sub 2} disposal, and (3) Investigate the transfer of CO{sub 2} from the hydrate phase to the oceanic water column as a boundary condition for ocean modeling of the fate of the released material. These activities extend the results of recent studies using the deep-sea CO{sub 2} deployment system, which characterized several features of liquid CO{sub 2} released into the sea, including hydrate formation and factors influencing dissolution rates of CO{sub 2}. Results from this project are relevant in determining the efficacy of carbon sequestration and the degree of perturbation of seawater chemistry. Biological studies, funded jointly by the Office of Science, Office of Fossil Energy, and MBARI, focus on the environmental consequences of CO{sub 2} release in the deep-sea. The specific objectives include: (1) Determination of the survival rates of typical deep-sea species exposed to changes in seawater chemistry (i.e. pH reduction, CO{sub 2} elevation) expected with ocean carbon sequestration, (2) Characterization of sublethal effects of CO{sub 2} exposure, such as changes in rates of respiration, growth, and reproduction, and (3) Comparative investigation of physiological effects of CO{sub 2} exposure on species typical of deep-sea (i.e. >1000 m) and shallow (i.e. 0-200 m) marine environments.