Geo-engineering Beacon Theme

Geo-engineering is usually described as: ‘The deliberate and widespread manipulation of the environment’ and with the current subtext that geo-engineering schemes have the objective to ensure the planet continues to be a hospitable environment for the human race. One of the most pressing needs is to reduce global warming which is increasing in response to anthropogenic release of carbon dioxide.

There are two broad categories of geo-engineering. One is to reduce solar heating of the planet, an objective which could be achieved by increasing the reflectivity or albedo of the Earth. An alternative is to reduce (or prevent further increase in) the concentration of atmospheric carbon dioxide. None of the schemes so far proposed has been examined in sufficient detail to determine the probability that they will work in a cost effective manner and whether the risks of unintended or harmful consequences are acceptable. At this moment, research is urgently required to address these two aspects.

The Geo-engineering Beacon Theme at the National Oceanography Centre is coordinated by Professor Richard Lampitt. It supports research into the second of these categories, that of reducing atmospheric carbon dioxide. It addresses several schemes within this category covering a wide range of disciplines but broadly divided into those mediated by chemical and biological processes in the water column and those focussing on geological processes. 

Water column processes - The world’s oceans have a vast capacity to take up atmospheric carbon dioxide and about a third of the anthropogenic emissions are currently absorbed by the oceans simply by dissolution (higher atmospheric concentration leads to greater uptake). This is the so-called solubility pump.

Nutrients - Phytoplankton growth and carbon export could be increased by fertilising the oceans from above with nutrient ‘cocktails’ or by pumping nutrient-rich water up from the ocean depths.  

Iron fertilisation - Fertilising the oceans with iron could increase phytoplankton growth and carbon export to the deep sea.

Side effects - Ocean geo-engineering could have unforeseen side effects some of which could be detrimental and unacceptable.

Research opportunities - Tightly focused research into the effects of ocean fertilisation is urgently needed.

Geology - A number of geologically based schemes have been proposed for carbon storage.