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Hmm.. "A quarter of the seaweed grown typically falls off the platform and sinks 1,000 meters to the seafloor, von Herzen says. At such depths, little oxygen i

Hmm.. "A quarter of the seaweed grown typically falls off the platform and sinks 1,000 meters to the seafloor, von Herzen says. At such depths, little oxygen is present, and biomass doesn’t readily decompose." Let's hope that is thoroughly verified. Elsewhere, microbes break down biomass in oxygen-poor conditions into lots of methane. If that turns out to be the case, dropping masses of seaweed to the ocean floor could be a timebomb worse than the CO2 it sequestered. Better aim for the other option: "But he [Rod Fujita] believes the best strategy for mitigating climate change with seaweed is to turn it into fuels or plastics, construction materials, or additives that suppress methane emissions from cattle and rice paddies." Yep. Win-win: sequester carbon, and produce something useful that replaces fossil-based goods.

downrightmike 3y ago
If we want to do anything to reduce carbon, we have to stop burning shit, not just burn some other shit.
asdff 3y ago
This exact mechanism has been proved before in the historical record, several times in fact, leading to ice ages even with the massive sequestration of greenhouse gasses from such algae falling to the bottom of the ocean. https://www.wired.com/2012/07/algae-ice-age-climate/ https://www.wired.com/2012/07/algae-ice-age-climate/
- andrewflnr 3y ago
  Yes, both mechanisms are well attested. We need to know which one is happening here.
asdff 3y ago
Also I apologize for the double comment but I think its a point that stands on its own. Kelp is also very useful for dealing with eutrification from either sewer or runoff. There have been some successful pilot experiments in new york harbor on using kelp to clean the water (1). Where its farmed in bulk it also has significant cleaning properties for local waterways (2). So not only does it help with greenhouse emissions but water pollution as well. 1. https://www.thecity.nyc/2023/03/22/kelp-farming-climate-solution-polluted-waterways/ https://www.thecity.nyc/2023/03/22/kelp-farming-climate-solu... 2. https://iopscience.iop.org/article/10.1088/1748-9326/ac3fd9 https://iopscience.iop.org/article/10.1088/1748-9326/ac3fd9
- cmrdporcupine 3y ago
  In terrestrial environments, similar things have been done with poplar trees: https://s3.wp.wsu.edu/uploads/sites/2182/2017/09/Wastewater-Infosheet_final.pdf https://s3.wp.wsu.edu/uploads/sites/2182/2017/09/Wastewater-... Grow extremely fast and fix carbon in wood, absorbing excess nutrients along the way. IMHO every cash crop farm should stands of poplars or willows on their borders.
aaron695 3y ago
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downrightmike 3y ago

If we want to do anything to reduce carbon, we have to stop burning shit, not just burn some other shit.

asdff 3y ago

This exact mechanism has been proved before in the historical record, several times in fact, leading to ice ages even with the massive sequestration of greenhouse gasses from such algae falling to the bottom of the ocean. https://www.wired.com/2012/07/algae-ice-age-climate/ https://www.wired.com/2012/07/algae-ice-age-climate/

andrewflnr 3y ago
Yes, both mechanisms are well attested. We need to know which one is happening here.

asdff 3y ago

Also I apologize for the double comment but I think its a point that stands on its own. Kelp is also very useful for dealing with eutrification from either sewer or runoff. There have been some successful pilot experiments in new york harbor on using kelp to clean the water (1). Where its farmed in bulk it also has significant cleaning properties for local waterways (2). So not only does it help with greenhouse emissions but water pollution as well. 1. https://www.thecity.nyc/2023/03/22/kelp-farming-climate-solution-polluted-waterways/ https://www.thecity.nyc/2023/03/22/kelp-farming-climate-solu... 2. https://iopscience.iop.org/article/10.1088/1748-9326/ac3fd9 https://iopscience.iop.org/article/10.1088/1748-9326/ac3fd9

cmrdporcupine 3y ago
In terrestrial environments, similar things have been done with poplar trees: https://s3.wp.wsu.edu/uploads/sites/2182/2017/09/Wastewater-Infosheet_final.pdf https://s3.wp.wsu.edu/uploads/sites/2182/2017/09/Wastewater-... Grow extremely fast and fix carbon in wood, absorbing excess nutrients along the way. IMHO every cash crop farm should stands of poplars or willows on their borders.

aaron695 3y ago

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