OCEAN ALKALINITY ENHANCEMENT FIELD STUDY 2024
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Our motivation for independent research on Ocean Alkalinity Enhancement
17.9.2024
We’re not on track to avoid global warming beyond 2°C with just emissions reduction. The IPCC has made it clear that, in addition to cutting emissions, we need to remove billions of tonnes of CO2 from the atmosphere. The big question is: how do we do that?………. Read more
Day (1) – Scouting the field site and initial testing of equipment
17.9.2024
Our main goal on day 1 (17.9.2024) was to find the best study site within the area for which we have a permit to operate within Norfolk Bay. Weather was partly cloudy with breezy westerlies in the morning. Some wind swell from behind provided some surf experience. We did 4 dives at different locations within the area for which we have a research permit. The deepest site was very heterogenic, full of turf algae with only a small oxic layer at the top….. Read more
Day (2) – Learning about how to do OAE research in sediments
9.10.2024
Our main goal on day 2 (9.10.2024) was to learn how OAE minerals can be applied underwater in a way that they don’t immediately drift out of predefined plots. The video below shows olivine dispersal when delivered relatively quickly. Time is crucial because there will be 12 plots in the experiment and dive time is limited. The idea to……… Read more
Day (3) – Setting up the plots for the field study
22.10.2024
Our main goal on day 3 (22.10.2024) was to set up the 12 plots on which the study will be conducted. This work mainly consisted of……… Read more
Day (4) to Day (7) – Adding minerals to the seafloor and taking samples from the plots
11.11.2024
Our main goal on days 4-7 (1.11.2024, 4.11.2024 to 6.11.2024) was to get the alkaline minerals on ~1.5 m2 plots on the seafloor and get our first samples. We decided to set up 12 plots in total. Four plots serve as untreated controls, four plots were enriched with agricultural lime (Ag-lime) sourced from a quarry in Mole Creek (Tasmania) and four with dunite (olivine) sourced from Mortlake (Victoria). On Friday (1.11.2024), we went out to……… Read more
Day (8) – 10 days after deployment
15.11.2024
Ten days after deployment, we sampled water in the 12 plots and obtained small sediment cores in the tracer plots. With a four-person dive team, we were able to……… Read more