Draft 1: Manipulating Primary Producers in an Effort to Sequester Carbon Dioxide from the Atmosphere

This topic submitted by Kari Panza and Jenny Gatt ( panzake@muohio.edu and Gattje@muohio.edu ) on 1/28/04 .

Global Climate Change -Western Program-Miami University

Question:

Can oceanic iron fertilization significantly reduce global temperatures without seriously harming or altering marine ecosystems?

Predictions:

We predict that oceanic iron fertilization has the potential to significantly decrease global temperatures. However, in time it may have a lasting effect on marine ecosystems productivity and survival, especially in areas that are in close proximity to where iron deposited.

Research Design:

We intend to research this subject from both perspectives. We will look at sources providing advantages of iron fertilization and also sources that provide the disadvantages. Our goal is to unbiasly weigh the pros and cons of iron fertilization and determine the answer to our question when we have fully completed our research.

References:

Journals:

Benemann, J.R. The use of iron and other trace element fertilizers in mitigating global warming. Journal of plant nutrition. 15, no. 10 (1992): pp.2277-2313.

Behrenfeld, Michael J.; Bale, Anthony J.; Kolber; Zbigniew S.; Aiken, James; Falkowski, Paul G. Conformation of iron limitation of phytoplankton photosynthesis in the equatorial Pacific Ocean. Nature (London) 383(6600), (1996): pp.508-511.

Steinberg, Paul A.; Millero, Frank J.; Zhu, Xiaorong. Carbonate system response to iron enrichment. Marine Chemistry. 62(1-2) (1998): pp.31-48.

Raven JA; Falkowski PG. Oceanic sinks for atmospheric carbon dioxide. Plant, Cell and Environment. 22, no. 6 (June 1999): pp.741-755.

Websites:

http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov

http:// www.bbm.me.uk/FeFert/science.html

http:// www.whoi.edu/media/iron.html

http://www-personal.umich.edu/`rstey/site%20files/consequences.html

http:// www.scienceblog.com/community/article1449.html

http://www. physics.ohio-state.edu/`wilkins/writing/assign/so/oceans_health.html

PDF:

Pena, Angelica M. " Modelling the response of the planktonic food web to iron fertilization and warming in the NE Subartic Pacific." Progress in Oceanography, Vol 57, Issue 3-4, (2003):pp.453-479

Cooper, D.J.; Watson, A.J.; Nightingale, P.D. "Large decrease in ocean-surface CO2 fagacity in response to insitu iron fertilization." Oceanographic Literature Review, Vol 44, Issue 3,(1997):pp.198.

Coale, K.H.;Johnson, K.S.;Fitzwater,S.E. "A massive phytoplankton Bloom induced by an eco-system-scale iron fertilization experiment in equatorial Pacific Ocean." Oceanographic Literature Review, Vol 44, Issue 3, (1997):pp.234.

Dufour,P; Berland,B. "Nutrient control of phytoplankton biomass in atoll lagoons and pacific ocean waters; studies with factoral enrichment bioassays." Journal of experimental Marine Biology and Ecology, Vol 234, Issue 2, (1999):pp.147-166.

Coale,K. "Open Ocean Iron Fertilization for scientific study and carbon sequestration." Moss Landing Marine Lab, Moss Landing, CA

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