Geoengineering Downwelling Ocean Currents: A Cost Assessment |
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Authors: | S Zhou P C Flynn |
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Institution: | (1) Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, T6G 2G8, Canada;(2) Poole Chair in Management for Engineers, Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, T6G 2G8, Canada |
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Abstract: | Downwelling ocean currents carry carbon into the deep ocean (the solubility pump), and play a role in controlling the level
of atmospheric carbon. The formation of North Atlantic Deep Water (NADW) also releases heat to the atmosphere, which is a
contributor to a mild climate in Europe. One possible response to the increase in anthropogenic carbon in the atmosphere and
to the possible weakening of the NADW is modification of downwelling ocean currents, by an increase in carbon concentration
or volume. This study assesses the costs of seven possible methods of modifying downwelling currents, including using existing
industrial techniques for exchange of heat between water and air. Increasing carbon concentration in downwelling currents
is not practical due to the high degree of saturation of high latitude surface water. Two of the methods for increasing the
volume of downwelling currents were found to be impractical, and four were too expensive to warrant further consideration.
Formation of thicker sea ice by pumping ocean water onto the surface of ice sheets is the least expensive of the methods identified
for enhancing downwelling ocean currents. Modifying downwelling ocean currents is highly unlikely to ever be a competitive
method of sequestering carbon in the deep ocean, but may find future application for climate modification. |
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