THE OCEAN AS A SOLUTION FOR GLOBAL WARMING: Part 1--National Academy of Sciences Recommendations

I'm a bit confused about the spotty hospital COVID-19 crises hitting various sites in the USA.  The South African Omicron variant wave seems to be rapidly declining, where those infected seemed not to be so sick, so hospitals were not challenged.  Best as I can tell, it is more the combination of staffing and supply shortages, plus the sudden onslaught of new cases because Omicron is so contagious.

The latest Omicron outbreaks are coming during the winter and holiday periods in the U.S., so the perfect storm of less distancing, fewer masks when in family/friends groups, ability of this Omicron virus strain to quickly attack those who are not fully vaccinated/boosted, and even more so to those unvaccinated, plus the unlucky few who are supposed to be protected, seems to be exacerbating this new peak.  It is summertime in South Africa, so they were "lucky" to have faced this variant at this time.

One bit of good news for the elderly is that in Denmark this Omnicron variant seems to more readily attack the younger generation:

But I wonder if this so because older people are also better vaccinated.  Also from Denmark, the full cycle of shots and booster works best to avoid getting infected:

The large headline in the local Star Advertiser said Hospitals prepare for omicron crisis.  Of course, knowing how widespread this new wave is hitting more and more locations throughout the world should convince all hospitals to "prepare."  I still hold reasonably high hopes that previous experience dealing with this pandemic, those vaccines and the relatively benign seriousness of this Omicron ailment will pass through by the end of next month.

Now on to my two-part topic of the day, on December 8 the National Academy of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine assessed the feasibility, cost and potential impacts of Ocean-based carbon dioxide removal approaches.  You can purchase a copy of A Research Strategy for Ocean-based Carbon Dioxide Removal and Sequestration for either $84 or $75.

As of 2021, atmospheric carbon dioxide levels have reached historically unprecedented levels, higher than at any time in the past 800,000 years. Worldwide efforts to reduce emissions by creating a more efficient, carbon-free energy system may not be enough to stabilize the climate and avoid the worst impacts of climate change. Carbon dioxide removal (CDR) strategies, which remove and sequester carbon from the atmosphere, likely will be needed to meet global climate goals. The ocean, covering 70% of the Earth's surface, includes much of the global capacity for natural carbon sequestration; the ocean also holds great potential for uptake and longer-term sequestration of human-produced CO2.

This report builds on previous work from the National Academies to assess what is currently known about the benefits, risks, and potential for responsible scale-up of six specific ocean-based CDR strategies as identified by the sponsor, ClimateWorks Foundation. It describes the research needed to advance understanding of those approaches and address knowledge gaps. The resulting research agenda is meant to provide an improved and unbiased knowledge base for the public, stakeholders, and policymakers to make informed decisions on the next steps for ocean CDR, as part of a larger climate mitigation strategy; it is not meant to lock in or advocate for any particular approach

ClimateWorks Foundation is a San Francisco-based nonprofit organization founded in 2008.  In 2016 it was listed as one of the Top 100 Largest U.S. Charities.

The Academy report recommends:

• $125 million to better understand the challenges, including economic and social, for ocean-based carbon dioxide removal.
• Assessed six specific approaches:
• $290 million for nutrient fertilization:  add nutrients such as phosphorus and nitrogen to increase photosynthesis by phytoplankton, which would transfer carbon to the deep ocean.
• $25 million for artificial upwelling and downwelling.
• $130 million for seaweed cultivation.
• $220 million for ecosystem recovery.
• $125-$200 million for ocean alkalinity enhancement.
• $350 million for electrochemical processes.

All of these approaches can utilize the Pacific International Ocean Station.  Watch my PIOS presentation to the Seasteading Institute.  Then, of course, my recent TEDx talk on the Blue Revolution.  Still not sure what the Blue Revolution is all about?  Read this Huffington Post article.

The Martin Hypothesis recommended the addition of iron, while the above report suggest phosphorus and nitrogen.   I wonder why iron was not included.

Nowhere is possible private sector profit mentioned in any of the six approaches.  At this point, the full extent of their priorities is only basic research planning.  The actual physical experimentation will come later after all these evaluations are carefully studied.  Sounds like more paralysis by analysis. 

The beauty of the concept proposed by Blue Revolution Hawaii is that our marine environmental enhancement processes will be accompanied by the production of sustainable resources to provide financial profit.  As someday large-scale doing will be required, it would be a lot more attractive for private sector cooperation if they can actually make money.  The world economy works best in a free enterprise market.  Click on THIS to find out how.

Tomorrow I will focus on the TEDx program presented by Blue Revolution Hawaii to the world.

-