Efficiency of carbon sequestration by added reactive nitrogen in ocean fertilisation
by Martin W. Lawrence
International Journal of Global Warming (IJGW), Vol. 6, No. 1, 2014

Abstract: Addition of limiting nutrients to the surface waters of the deep ocean will lead to increased photosynthesis and associated biological productivity. Some of carbon taken up by phytoplankton will sink to the deep ocean, providing sequestration of carbon in the deep ocean. This paper considers nitrogen as the added nutrient and determines the losses in this sequestration process, taking into account a number of mechanisms. Other factors that impact on carbon sequestration are also taken into account, such as production of other greenhouse gases, and manufacture and distribution of nutrient. The overall efficiency of the sequestration process is found to be approximately 75%, depending on the form of the nutrient. That is, up to 75% of the carbon processed by photosynthesis (on adding nitrogen) can be sequestered. This is well in excess of sequestration estimates using iron as the added nutrient.

Online publication date: Wed, 02-Jul-2014

The full text of this article is only available to individual subscribers or to users at subscribing institutions.

 
Existing subscribers:
Go to Inderscience Online Journals to access the Full Text of this article.

Pay per view:
If you are not a subscriber and you just want to read the full contents of this article, buy online access here.

Complimentary Subscribers, Editors or Members of the Editorial Board of the International Journal of Global Warming (IJGW):
Login with your Inderscience username and password:

Username:        Password:          Forgotten your password?

Want to subscribe?
A subscription gives you complete access to all articles in the current issue, as well as to all articles in the previous three years (where applicable). See our Orders page to subscribe.

If you still need assistance, please email subs@inderscience.com