Plan to iron out plankton problem
California-based Planktos intends to drop tonnes of powdered iron into the Pacific in a two-year project that aims to induce the growth of plankton.
The powdered iron provides a key nutrient for plankton growth missing or in short supply in up to 70% of the world’s oceans.
Some scientists believe the iron-seeding technique will help reduce the carbon dioxide in the atmosphere after research published last week showed atmospheric carbon dioxide is not being absorbed by the Southern Ocean at the rate it used to be.
Planktos chief executive Russ George said: “We are trying to demonstrate this restoration is not only achievable and affordable with targeted iron dust replenishment, it is absolutely necessary to rehabilitate the ocean’s health.”
Research shows that each decade since 1981 the ocean has soaked up between 5% and 30% less of the greenhouse gas than predicted and has unloaded more carbon dioxide into the atmosphere.
Phytoplankton, the plant form of plankton, struggle to grow if there is little iron, but the extra supplies could mean they will photosynthesise and absorb carbon that, when they die and sink, will be trapped on the seabed, where it will be out of the system.
