Researchers from Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution plan to test ocean alkalinity enhancement off Cape Cod to assess its potential in mitigating climate change.
The experiment aims to release sodium hydroxide into the ocean to enhance its ability to absorb CO2.
Environmentalists and commercial fishers oppose the project, citing potential risks to marine life and its minimal impact on climate change.
The project will begin with a small-scale test, with a larger trial planned if initial results are promising.
Key quote:
"We wouldn't be doing this if we thought there was going to be a big impact [on marine life]."
— Dan McCorkle, co-principal investigator
Why this matters:
Ocean alkalinity enhancement could offer a new method to reduce atmospheric CO2, but its effectiveness and ecological impact remain uncertain. The project’s outcomes will inform future climate engineering efforts and policies.
Ocean alkalinity plays a major role in ocean’s carbon uptake, in buffering, and in calcium carbonate production and dissolution, and it impacts and is affected by various biogeochemical processes.
