Janice R. Andrews
An unusual strategy to tackle climate change has been proposed by researchers at the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution: discarding 6,600 gallons of sodium hydroxide, or lye, into the ocean off the coast of Cape Cod. The goal of this contentious idea is to increase the ocean’s capacity to absorb carbon dioxide, but local fishing communities, environmentalists, and US regulators are anticipated to strongly oppose it.
Improvement of Ocean Alkalinity
To boost seawater’s ability to absorb CO2 from the atmosphere, the researchers’ method, known as ocean alkalinity enhancement (OAE), entails diluting common substances like sodium hydroxide in the water. Through this process, the amount of carbon dioxide in the air will be reduced, potentially mitigating the consequences of climate change.
Critics have expressed worries about the idea despite its possible advantages. There is doubt about the long-term effects on marine ecosystems of such geoengineering initiatives, and the hazards involved are not completely known.
Dealing with Environmental Issues
Co-principal investigator and recently retired Woods Hole scientist Dan McCorkle stressed the team’s dedication to environmental safety. McCorkle said, “We care about the environment, too,” to WBUR. “We wouldn’t be doing this if we thought there was going to be a big impact on marine life.”
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) received an application from McCorkle and his group recently for a federal authorization to carry out their experiment. They intend to expand the trial in the Gulf of Maine the following year if it is permitted.
Minimizing Acidification of the Ocean
The goal of OAE is to mitigate the ocean’s growing acidity, which is a result of CO2 emissions from human activity being absorbed by the ocean. Sealife may be negatively impacted by carbonic acid, which is created when carbon dioxide dissolves in saltwater. It is anticipated that the injection of sodium hydroxide will balance the acidity and return the chemistry of the ocean to a more balanced state.
One of many geoengineering projects to slow down climate change is this experiment. To lessen solar radiation, other strategies are being investigated, such as releasing aerosolized particles into the stratosphere.
The Need for Quick Action
McCorkle emphasized how urgent it is to investigate these techniques. “Given our seeming inability or unwillingness to rapidly shift away from fossil fuel burning, which we absolutely have to do, it may be important to start studying whether any of these methods really are going to be helpful,” he stated. “We need to know if they’re going to help get carbon out of the atmosphere.”
Disagreement and Fears
Even with the possible advantages, opposition to the plan has already been expressed. In a letter to the EPA, the Massachusetts Lobstermen’s Association voiced its worries regarding the experiment and demanded additional study before “truckloads of liquid alkaline can be dumped in the ocean.”
The opposition draws attention to the necessity of careful assessment of the possible effects on local populations and marine ecosystems, as well as comprehensive scientific inquiry.
The Woods Hole researchers are resolute in their pursuit of novel approaches to mitigate the effects of climate change, notwithstanding the ongoing discourse. Scientists, decision-makers, and environmentalists from all around the world will be keenly following the results of their permit application and the experiments that follow.
To sum up, the plan to release sodium hydroxide into the ocean is a daring and contentious way to combat climate change. Although it has potential, it also highlights how difficult and urgent it is to come up with workable answers to one of the most important problems of our day. To make sure that any actions are safe, sustainable, and environmentally beneficial, the scientific community and the general public must balance the potential benefits against the hazards.
