Iron fertilization of the Oceans: Reconciling Commercial Claims with Published Models
Box model studies of geochemists have led to the conclusion that iron fertilization of the Southern Ocean would not significantly reduce atmospheric CO2. Yet Michael Markels, an entrepreneur set on using ocean fertilization to sequester CO 2, believes he can solve the fossil fuel CO2 problem with ir...
| Main Authors: | , , |
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| Format: | Text |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
2002
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| Online Access: | http://citeseerx.ist.psu.edu/viewdoc/summary?doi=10.1.1.545.3134 http://chisholmlab.mit.edu/publications/fefert.pdf |
| Summary: | Box model studies of geochemists have led to the conclusion that iron fertilization of the Southern Ocean would not significantly reduce atmospheric CO2. Yet Michael Markels, an entrepreneur set on using ocean fertilization to sequester CO 2, believes he can solve the fossil fuel CO2 problem with iron fertilization. In this paper, we take a simple-minded carbon accounting approach to examine Markels ’ claims and reconcile them with the conclusions of the modelling studies. We show that the discrepancy comes partly from flawed assumptions in the calculations, but largely from different interpretations of similar results. At best, iron fertilization would make only the smallest of dents in atmospheric CO2 if fossil fuel burning continues to grow exponentially. |
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