paradox lost

Many of the climate change deniers point to the Antarctic to prove their point.  You see, it is actually having an ice increase, while the arctic is suffering its worse losses.  So, John Turner of the British Antarctic Survey has set his sights on figuring out why this may be the case.  

And, in an ironic twist, it seems the hole in the ozone is the culprit… but it isn’t going to last. Weather patterns in the Antarctic have changed due to the hole as a result warmer air is blowing over the western part of the continent and colder air is on the east.

on the move

Last week it was reported that there was some research indicating that the release of iron sulfate into the ocean could trap some carbon dioxide.  

As a result, a group of scientists wanted to dump large amounts of iron sulfate in the coeans off the Antarctic, as an experiment, to see if the theory could be proven.  Many warned that this should not be done in haste, as there was not enough evidence of the affect to the surrounding areas.

It seems that the warnings have gone unnoticed, because a ship from Germany is currently headed to the region to dump its contents, according to Nature News.  This has raised much concern.  No one knows who “approved” this mission and some feel it violates international law.  The United Nations put a moratorium on such experiments until more data was gathered of the potential consequences.

The body recommended that until a “global, transparent and effective control and regulatory mechanism is in place for these activities”, only small-scale scientific studies in coastal waters should be exempted.

Which is why the approval of this is such a surprise.  Another criticism for why this may have undergone fast approval: American companies interested in using this as a way to sell carbon offsets.

Companies in America and Australia are looking at this experiment very closely to see if it can be used as a way to sell offsets to the citizenry.  Offsets are controversial as they are seen as ways to continue to live a gluttonous lifestyle, without the guilt.  But companies that sell offsets are under investigation to see if they actually do what they promise.

This is a topic that will be on our radar for the days to come.

miracle plant?

When you think of global warming certain images always come to mind: polar bears, penguins, clear cutting, and the ever melting icebergs.

However, the melting of the icebergs, may be creating a global warming paradox. Those melting bergs may just be a key to saving our planet, so says some researchers in the Antarctic, on the HMS Endurance.

They have found that when the icebergs melt, small particles of iron are being released into the water. Those particles are feeding algae, which in turn blooms, and sucks up all the extra CO2.

Due to this finding there is a push for researchers to be allowed to dump massive amounts of iron sulfate into the oceans to prove that the hypothesis is accurate. Doing this would create an algae bloom that would be big enough to see from space. However, many environmentalists are warning that this experiment should not happen. Siting that the excess amount of iron sulfate may do irreparable damage to an already failing ecosystem.

Regardless, the new findings are compelling enough that the scientists have been granted approval by the UN to proceed with the experiement.

The aim is to discover whether artificially fertilising the area will create more algae in the Great Southern Ocean. That ocean is an untapped resource for soaking up CO2 because it doesn’t have much iron, unlike other seas.

It covers 20million square miles, and scientists say that if this could all be treated with iron, the resulting algae would remove three-and-a-half gigatons of carbon dioxide. This is equivalent to one eighth of all emissions annually created by burning fossil fuels such as oil, gas and coal.

It would also be equal to removing all carbon dioxide emitted from every power plant, chimney and car exhaust in the rapidly expanding industries of India and Japan.

Of course, the experts warn it is too early to say whether it will work. This entire exercise may be for nought. And, the flip side is that if it doesn’t work, we may be in more trouble than we are in now. Oceans are not isolated boxes, whatever is done in the ocean will have an affect on the surrounding areas. As stated that ocean is unaccustomed to having large amounts of iron present, and ecosystems have flourished, as a result. If the algae does not bloom, there could be damage due to a high level of iron. Or, the blooming could cause unnecessary resource depletion resulting in mass extinction of otherwise healthy species.

Or, it could all work out and global warming and the increase of CO2 in our atmosphere is resolved.

HERE is the article, via The Daily Mail.