Royal Society Describes Clone Of Haida Salmon Project

Royal Society Describes Clone Of Haida Salmon Project

/ March 29, 2013 / Comments Off on Royal Society Describes Clone Of Haida Salmon Project / Comments In Support

Ocean fertilization: R.S Lampitt, et al Phil. Trans. R. Soc. A 13 November 2008 vol. 366no. 1882 3919-3945

Abstract: The oceans sequester carbon from the atmosphere partly as a result of biological productivity. Over much of the ocean surface, this productivity is limited by essential nutrients and we discuss whether it is likely that sequestration can be enhanced by supplying limiting nutrients. Various methods of supply have been suggested and we discuss the efficacy of each and the potential side effects that may develop as a result. Our conclusion is that these methods have the potential to enhance sequestration but that the current level of knowledge from the observations and modelling carried out to date does not provide a sound foundation on which to make clear predictions or recommendations. For ocean fertilization to become a viable option to sequester CO2, we need more extensive and targeted fieldwork and better mathematical models of ocean biogeochemical processes. Models are needed both to interpret field observations and to make reliable predictions about the side effects of large-scale fertilization. They would also be an essential tool with which to verify that sequestration has effectively taken place. There is considerable urgency to address climate change mitigation and this demands that new fieldwork plans are developed rapidly. In contrast to previous experiments, these must focus on the specific objective which is to assess the possibilities of CO2sequestration through fertilization.

Field experiments parameters: Of the four potential means of ocean fertilization identified above, significant field experiments have only been carried out to address the effects of iron fertilization and almost all have been in HNLC regions. As described above, these studies were not designed to address the issue of sequestration and if the feasibility of all four potential strategies is to be evaluated, further relevant experiments in the field will need to be undertaken. In order to address issues of natural spatial and temporal variability, these would need to be of sufficient duration (more than 10 weeks) and scale (in excess of 100×100 km).

Conclusion : There is at present a clear and urgent need for tightly focused research into the effects of ocean fertilization. The critical areas of research will involve large-scale field experiments (100×100 km) tightly coupled to high-resolution three-dimensional computational models with embedded biogeochemistry. This is required for each of the four classes of fertilization schemes that have been proposed. Until completed satisfactorily, it is impossible to provide a rational judgement about whether the schemes proposed are (i) likely to be effective and (ii) likely to cause unacceptable side effects.Once this research has been carried out, it will be the responsibility of the science community to perform appropriate cost–benefit–risk analyses in order to inform policy. At the same time, discussions between the commercial, regulatory and scientific communities must take place so that the principles and practices of verification can be established. Read more …

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