The Positive and Negative Effects of Biogeochemical Carbon Sequestration and Carbon Capture/Storage on the Atmosphere, Lithosphere, and Hydrosphere
John Ocker, Mr. Andrews, Block 3AC, 2014
Earth Science Project
Paul V. Moore High School
Abstract
As the level of carbon emissions in the atmosphere continues to skyrocket, carbon dioxide forms a “wall” around the atmosphere, from which solar energy is unable to escape. Carbon storage/capture and carbon sequestration can theoretically prevent solar rays from becoming trapped, ensuring Earth stays at a stable temperature. Carbon storage in the oceans is a possible route to take, but with serious repercussions. It will cause the pH level in the ocean to decrease, and a large amount of
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Carbon sequestration is the process of carbon dioxide being extracted from the atmosphere and accumulating in underground reservoirs via the use of chemical alteration of the carbon dioxide in question.
Researchers of oceanic carbon sequestration from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology presented their finding predictions and evaluations concerning carbon sequestration at the First National Conference on Carbon Sequestration. The researchers introduced that if we were to wait until there is definitive proof of harmful climate change, it will have been too late to develop large-scale solutions to the problem (Hoffert et al., 1998). On the opposing standpoint, a study at the University of Michigan has stated that carbon sequestration has many negative effects, such as mass death and the changing of the ocean’s chemical properties, and that they are large enough to possibly invalidate the benefits of this (Nye et al., 2007) perhaps world-revolutionizing discovery.
Carbon capture/storage is the process of capturing carbon from large point sources, transporting it to a storage site, and depositing it to where it will not enter the atmosphere, normally an underground geological formation. After steam is separated from the carbon dioxide, it is used to spin a turbine connected to an electricity generator. Then it could be deposited in oceans, where phytoplankton combine
This increase in oceanic inorganic carbon has offset the seawater carbonate chemistry by causing increasing concentrations of CO2 and bicarbonate, while causing decreasing concentrations of carbonate and pH levels (Dedmer 2013). Rost and colleagues (2008) express that emissions of fossil fuel have caused an immense increase in the levels of atmospheric CO2, which are then deposited into the surface water of oceans. This increase in carbonic acid is in turn decreasing the pH balance, which poses a threat to marine organisms.
Nature’s article argue that the amount of CO2 released into the atmosphere and consequently has been soaked up by the oceans increasing its acidity will cause to phytoplankton releases less sulfur compounds into the atmosphere, which have participation in the cooling process of the planet by creating aerosols seeds that are responsible for creating clouds that reflect the sunlight. Even though, back in the 1980s some scientists had proposed that the earth is capable of regulating itself and if warming increases plankton productivity the more sulfur compounds would be released and help to cool the Earth, currently earth feedback could happen in another direction due to the acidification of the ocean leading to less emission of sulfur compounds.
Carbon Capture and Sequestration is the process of reducing emissions of carbon dioxide by injecting the compound back in the ground. The process takes 3 steps:
Oceans help aid the globe keep its carbon cycle in balance, how can it be expected to do that when carbon dioxide is ruining the oceans now? As for the future, the ocean will continue to become more acidic as long as carbon dioxide is being put out in the atmosphere. If this continues the long term consequences are still unknown. They will no be good for the ocean, the organisms that house it, and life on land, like us. Many people think we get most of the oxygen we need from plants and trees. But, we really get most of the oxygen we need from the ocean. More the reason to take care of our
Most of the CO2 that enters the atmosphere dissolves into the ocean, as close to a third of the CO2 produced from human activities since 1800 and approximately half produced by burning fossil fuels are consumed into the ocean (Sabine et al. 2004). Increased CO2 in the atmosphere is one of the main causes of our changing climate change (NOAA, 2011). Global ocean temperatures have risen by 0.74oC (1.3oF) since the late 19th century. With the increasing rate of CO2 and other greenhouse gas emissions have been predicted to rise to approximately 4.0oC (7.2oF) this century (NOAA, 2016). Just the tropical upper oceans alone have warmed more than 0.01oC per year over the past 50 years and the warming rate is still increasing (NOAA, 2010).
The overwhelming majority (97%) of carbon dioxide in the earth 's atmosphere comes from nature, not from man. Volcanoes, swamps, rice paddies, fallen leaves, and even insects and bacteria produce carbon dioxide, as well as methane. According to the journalScience (Nov. 5, 1982), termites alone emit ten times more carbon dioxide than all the factories and automobiles in the world. Natural wetlands emit more greenhouse gases than all human activities combined. (If greenhouse warming is such a problem, why are we trying to save all the wetlands?) Geothermal activity in Yellowstone National Park emits ten times the carbon dioxide of a midsized coal-burning power plant, and volcanoes emit hundreds of times more. In fact, our atmosphere 's composition is primarily the result of volcanic activity. There are about 100 active volcanoes today, mostly in remote locations, and we 're living in a period of relatively low volcanic activity. There have been times when volcanic activity was ten times greater than in modern times. But by far the largest source of carbon dioxide emissions is the equatorial Pacific Ocean. It produces 72% of the earth 's emissions of carbon dioxide, and the rest of the Pacific, the Atlantic, the Indian Ocean, and the other oceans also contribute. The human contribution is overshadowed by these far larger sources of carbon dioxide. Combining the factors of water vapor and nature 's production of carbon dioxide, we
The ocean absorbs up to 30% of the Carbon Dioxide which is released into the world.
Everyday, carbon is removed from the atmosphere by diffusing into the ocean. Carbon dioxide is slightly soluble, so it is absorbed into oceans, lakes and other bodies of water. It dissolves in the surface layer of the ocean, most of it is converted into carbonate or bicarbonate, or goes through the process of photosynthesis by phytoplankton and algae, but some of the gas remains the same. Some forms of sea life can produce calcium carbonate using the carbon from the atmosphere and the dissolved calcium in the ocean from calcium silicate rocks; they can then use the calcium carbonate as a building material for their shells and
Anthropogenic activity has led to greatly increased emissions of greenhouses gases. Increased temperatures, acidification and stratification are all affected by increased carbon dioxide (CO2) concentrations. These symptoms of climate change have direct and indirect effects on to marine ecosystems, all of which start at the major primary producers of the oceans: phytoplankton.
Since the beginning industrial revolution the ocean has suffered, and with that the ocean plants and animals have suffered as well. Ocean acidification has been the main cause of all these marine life problems. Anthropogenic activities alone have increased atmospheric CO2 by a third. Humans are doing things such as deforestation, land use changes, and the burning of fossil fuels for energy. The burning of fossil fuels accounts for 37% of the U.S. CO2 emissions. If just in the United States we are producing that much CO2, just imagine how much CO2 we are producing world wide from burning fossil fuels. Carbon Dioxide is not just affecting the atmosphere it is affecting the oceans and the creatures living in the oceans. Since the industrial revolution
Anthropogenic emissions of carbon dioxide have increased atmospheric CO2 concentrations by over 40% relative to pre-industrial levels (IPCC ch2). Measures of atmospheric CO2 do not account for all CO2 emissions because, in addition to the atmosphere, the ocean is a major sink. The ocean absorbs CO2 at a rate of approximately 7 GtCO2 yr-1. Since 1750, the ocean has absorbed 500 GtCO2 of the total 1300 GtCO2 from anthropogenic emissions (IPCC ch6).
Climate change causes an increase in atmospheric carbon dioxide which dissolves in the ocean and leads to ocean acidification. One third of all the carbon dioxide that is produced due to human activities has been absorbed by the oceans since 1800 (Haw, 2013). Half of all carbon dioxide produced from the
Deforestation and the burning of fossil fuels have led to a great increase in anthropogenic carbon dioxide released into the atmosphere. Since the Industrial Revolution, the concentration of atmospheric CO2 has increased from about 280 parts per million to above 390 parts per million; and recently has been calculated to be rising 1.5-2 parts per million per year (Kudela, 2013). This sharp increase in atmospheric CO2 has had an impact on the ocean, and can be seen by the increase in the levels of gaseous CO2 in the seawater.
Carbon dioxide (CO2) absorbs energy from the sun, then releases it back into earth; it is the second largest greenhouse gas after water vapour. Carbon dioxide releases out a harmful gas, which is dissolved out to the atmosphere determined by temperature. However CO2 is not one of the main impulsive forces in causing climate shifts, but as the climate cools the concentration of CO2 decreases this then has a further cooling effect. Causing this irregular rise and fall in CO2 levels is the shift where carbon moves between the atmosphere, the earths crust and the ocean. Furthermore, the rapid change of seasons also has an effect in how CO2 levels act, as such in winter the saturation levels in the ocean increases. This then influences the CO2 levels to dissolve in the ocean, resulting to a rise in sea levels and causes such as loss of biodiversity.
There are lots of natural processes constantly happening all around us, these processes are often linked by passing one type of atom to the next process which passes the same atom to the next one and so on. This ‘passing of the atom’ along a chain of processes is called a cycle, the series of processes in which the carbon atom goes through is called the carbon cycle. Each Carbon is the fourth most affluent element in the universe and is an important part of most molecules that make up most of the world’s natural resources and organic matter, which is why the carbon cycle is one of the most important cycles on earth. Through-out the cycle, carbon can become several different forms such as sugar, oil, diamond and marble. Processes such as photosynthesis, combustion and the compression of the earth play key roles in changing, containing and releasing carbon. All the chemical reactions and processes and forms carbon creates are part of the carbon cycle, which is one of the most important cycle on earth. The majority of carbon on earth is in the atmosphere the rest is stored in rocks, fossil fuels, oceans, plants and soil. Carbon is constantly being added to the atmosphere, the most common forms being carbon dioxide and methane gas. At the same time it’s being removed by plants on land and in the oceans. Carbon can be stored for hundreds of years in sediment, fossil fuels, rocks and the ocean. The carbon in the atmosphere is almost always a compound called carbon dioxide.