'Giant tubes' in proposed solution to imminent GCC crisis

[TheReasoner]

http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2007/09/070926-warming-solution.html

Imagine an ocean full of giant pipes that pump up cold, nutrient-rich water from deep below, encouraging surface algae to bloom and suck carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.

That's the controversial new vision of James Lovelock, the independent British scientist best known for proposing the Gaia hypothesis, and Chris Rapley, a space physicist and director of London's Science Museum.

The pair claims that such climate engineering solutions may be the only way to hold global warming at bay given its current progress. (See a global warming interactive.)

"Global warming appears to be an irreversible process, and if we don't do anything then the world will just heat up to a stable, hot state," Lovelock said. "The stakes are now so high that we have to act."

But other experts are skeptical, pointing out that the scheme could release more carbon than it absorbs while putting fragile marine life in danger.

 

[Trogdor the Burninator]

http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2007/09/070926-warming-solution.html

Imagine an ocean full of giant pipes that pump up cold, nutrient-rich water from deep below, encouraging surface algae to bloom and suck carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.

...
But other experts are skeptical, pointing out that the scheme could release more carbon than it absorbs while putting fragile marine life in danger.

Hmmm, this is sounding like an idea right up there with the release of cane toads into the Pacific and Australia....

 

[horuhe00]

Somehow, it doesn't sound too logical to me.

 

[LouTheWicked]

Somehow, it doesn't sound too logical to me.

Then again times are getting pretty desperate...

 

[TheReasoner]

Somehow, it doesn't sound too logical to me.

well, it´s fairly logical, but too much algae is bound to have a negative effect on marine life

 

[stephenc]

There's a simpler way to incress the amount of phytoplankton: Iron.

It's the lack og Iron that means we don't have a larger amount of carbon dioxide absorbing green plankton in large areas of ocean.

It's simple, really; a few shiploads of powdered iron would give a definite increase.

Worth a try, anyway.

 

[horuhe00]

There's a simpler way to incress the amount of phytoplankton: Iron.

It's the lack og Iron that means we don't have a larger amount of carbon dioxide absorbing green plankton in large areas of ocean.

It's simple, really; a few shiploads of powdered iron would give a definite increase.

Worth a try, anyway.

China's got a monopoly on the iron.

 

[Avatar]

There's a simpler way to incress the amount of phytoplankton: Iron.

It's the lack og Iron that means we don't have a larger amount of carbon dioxide absorbing green plankton in large areas of ocean.

It's simple, really; a few shiploads of powdered iron would give a definite increase.

Worth a try, anyway.

Is it? Wouldn't all the algae at the surface interfere with sunlight reaching everything below it?

 

[Calliso]

Is it? Wouldn't all the algae at the surface interfere with sunlight reaching everything below it?

Yeah that is a good question..and even if it doesn;t there is still the question of would increasing the algae by that much have a potentially negative effect on other marine sea life? Cause unfortunately often times when man messes with nature's balance the results are not good.

 

[Ave Maria]

Interesting. I wouldn't think this would be good for marine life though. But then again, times are getting desperate and desperate measures are needed. Thankfully, where I live, I doubt that my area will ever be flooded due to melting glaciers and ice bergs in the arctic.

 

[horuhe00]

Me thinks this requires more thought.

 

[stephenc]

I suppose not having a full knowledge of the consequences is a good reason for not doing any major changes to an ecosystem. It's what we call "the precautionairy principle". But then again, had we followed it all the way me would probably still be in caves (or possibly in the garden of Eden;-)).