Could volcanic ash help combat global climate change?
Mo, 5. Okt 2020, 09:05
09:05 AM | VON: ELEANOR
Volcanic ash settling on south Pacific Ocean following eruption (Image: USGS)
Oceans are 'carbon sinks'– absorbing carbon dioxide emissions created by human activity. With many of the world's volcanoes located in proximity to the oceans, every year millions of tonnes of volcanic ash is erupted and deposited into the oceans where it settles on the ocean floor and increases carbon storage in marine sediments, therefore reducing atmospheric carbon dioxide levels. The carbon dioxide is locked away in the form of calcium carbonate and organic carbon – the recent modelling carried out by scientists at University of Southampton suggest this natural process of carbon sequestration may be enhanced by artificially inputting more volcanic ash to the oceans. The scientists state that 'offshore ash addition could sequester 2750 tonnes of carbon dioxide per 50,000 tonnes of ash delivered for a cost of approximately $55 per tonne of carbon dioxide sequestered'.
Although further research is needed to test the efficiency of this GGR technique, it demonstrates the continued interaction between volcanic eruptions and Earth's processes – volcanism has helped stabilise the climate throughout Earth's history and this new research suggests that once again volcanoes could help in the current battle against climate change.
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Links / Quelle:
Links / Quelle:
- Anthropocene: Viability of greenhouse gas removal via the artificial addition of volcanic ash to the ocean (Longman, Palmer and Gernon, 2020)
