Stop Global Warming, Dump Iron in Ocean

Planktos wants to increase the population of plankton in the oceans.  Their theory is that the increase in plankton will result in a decrease of CO2, and the decrease in carbon dioxide will then save the world from spontaneous combustion.

So, in order to foster the increase in plankton, Planktos plans on dumping tons of iron dust into the ocean:

 In the coming days to weeks, Planktos, a small California-based “ecorestoration” company, will use a 115-foot (35-meter) research ship to dump a hundred tons of iron dust into international waters some 200 miles (322 kilometers) west of the Galápagos Islands.

Iron—a nutrient naturally carried into the ocean by wind—encourages plankton growth, which can absorb atmospheric CO2, a greenhouse gas.

Planktos isn’t doing this just to save the planet from the oppressive heat that is sure to kill all of us.  They plan to measure the level of CO2 removed from the atmosphere, and then sell carbon credits to Church members.

There are some questions concerning the plan, from environmental groups and marine scientists.  But as of now, the plan is to drop the iron.  I hope this works out better than the tire reef did.  But I don’t imagine it will.  I wonder what the unintended consequences of this will be. 

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Duane Lester Duane is a former Navy journalist turned blogger and podcaster.
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