Rana Brown November 5,02

OCEANIC C02 SEQUESTRATION TECHNOLOGY

OCEAN DISPOSAL THROUGH DEEP SEA INJECTION:
    1. Monterey Bay California site (www.mbari.org/ghgases/deep/release.htm)
    2. -ROV's released liquid C02 through a pipe into a beaker at a depth of 3627meters.
    3. Within hours liquid C02 was converted to an ice-like hydrate, which remained on the ocean floor.

2. Keyhole Point Hawaii (www.co2experiment.org/facts.htm)

-Injection of approximately 40-60tonnes of liquid C02 into deep ocean at approx. 2600 feet depth.

-unknown environmental impacts.

-costs involved in capturing C02.

-permanence of ocean disposal.

-unknown effects on ocean habitats and organisms.

OCEAN FERTILIZATION

=> The idea of adding trace levels of iron to sea surface levels that were deficient in order to enhance the production of Phytoplankton, which photosynthetically fix carbon. An increase in the amount and size of Phytoplankton blooms would equate to higher absorption of C02.

(www.cdiac2.esd.oral.gov/ocean.html)

=> EXPERIMENT

1.Near Galapagos Islands

-A 64 sq. km. Region of ocean was infused with a trace amount of iron. That produced a doubling of plant biomass, a tripling of chlorophyll and a fourfold increase in plant production.

2.Pacific follow-up

-a 64 sq. km patch more carefully fertilized to create a giant phytoplankton bloom

which yielded a larger amount of carbon fixation at 90 p.p.m.v. in ocean surface C02 levels,

(www.mbari.org/ghgases/revelle/text.htm)

=ª ADVANTAGES/DISADVANTAGES

+enhances the biological pump of carbon cycling in the ocean.

-may lead to increased N02 levels

+/- research pending on how these experiments affect the environment.

Katherine Dennis Nov. 5, 02

Using coral reefs as global warming indicators

Coral reefs are vulnerable ecosystems known to be sensitive to long-term climate changes. When temperatures rise as little as, one degree Celsius above maximum summer high for three days, the symbiotic algae giving the coral it’s color and nutrition die and the coral appear to be white (bleached). Noting the rise in temperature and the condition of the coral become an indicator for climate related impact.

Bibliography:

Jameson SC, Erdmann MV, Karr JR, Gibson GR Jr, Potts KW

Charting a Course Toward Diagnostic Monitoring: A Continuing Review of Coral Reef Attributes and a Research Strategy for Creating Coral Reef Indexes of Biotic Integrity. Bull Mar Sel

Available at: http://www.epa.gov/owow/oceans/assessmonitor/rptsguidance.html

The U.S. Coral Reef Task Force (CRTF) was established to lead the U.S. response to this growing, global environmental crisis.

http://coralreef.gov/threats.cfm

A NOAA site devoted to the protection of coral reefs and a source of educational material. http://coris.noaa.gov/activities/actionstrategy/actionstrategy.html

A publication available on the web about coral bleaching causes and consequences http://www.crc.uri.edu/comm/download/Coral_1-4.pdf

Union of Concerned Scientists Global Environment site. Contains information on climate impacts, climate science, early warning signs of global warming: coral reef bleaching. http://www.ucsa.org/global_warming/page.cfm?pageID=511

Kingwood College Library has a global warming (man-made or natural cycle) with annotated web sites listed. http://www.nhmccd.cc.tx.us/lrc/kc/globalwarming.htm

Marine Protected Areas of the United States Library has a collection of web sites that are related to the management and the science of marine protected areas. http://mpa.gov/mpaservices/library/websites.html

They also have lists of Institutions and organizations. http://mpa.gov/mpaservices/library/institutionlist.html

This is a site from the Scientists at the Australian Institute of Marine Science with a mission to share information to be used to sustain and protect the marine environment. http://www.aims.gov.au/index-ie2.html