Where do we draw the line between possibly causing harmful environmental effects with the intent of solving a larger environmental solution? This very question has been recently addressed this past Wednesday.
Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute is working on a project titled the LOC-NESS project, which stands for “Locking away Ocean Carbon in the Northeast Shelf and Slope.” They have faced major drawbacks while attempting to carry out the attempt.
What is the Goal of This Project?
The LOC-NESS project hopes to investigate a method to help alleviate the negative effects of climate change through ocean alkalinity enhancement. This will ideally remove carbon dioxide from the environment, slowing down the degradation of the environment through increased levels of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere.
While carbon emissions are incredibly harmful, one of the main prioritizations of the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute is to take out some of the existing atmospheric carbon to productively assist with reversing the impacts of climate change.
So What’s Their Strategy?
In order to work to remove existing carbon, the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute plans to carry out a procedure in which the extent to which oceans are a carbon sink would artificially be increased.
They would achieve this through ocean alkalinity enhancement, where they would dump 6,600 gallons of sodium hydroxide into the ocean.
How Would This Help?
Oceans are carbon sinks. This means that they absorb and store atmospheric carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. They naturally absorb this carbon dioxide through a process where phytoplankton convert it into organic matter.
This leads to carbon sequestration, removing some level of carbon dioxide and regulating the total amount that exists in the atmosphere.
Does it Even Work?
That’s exactly what the scientists are looking to discover. This has never been done before and the effects of this process are currently unknown.
If the procedure ends up being successful, scientists would have more knowledge on how much alkaline enhancement an ocean can withstand, as well how much carbon dioxide it would actually remove from the atmosphere.
When Will the Procedure Be Conducted?
This aspect of the experiment is the second phase. It was supposed to happen this fall, but has been pushed back to the summer of 2025.
The reason for this is that the vessel that the researchers originally intended to use throughout the duration of the experiment became unavailable and there is no other vessel that will be satisfactory to utilize throughout. But this experiment has received a large amount of backlash.
Original Postponement
This is not the first time the procedure has been pushed back to a later date. The Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute was hoping to conduct phase two even before fall 2025, but the EPA did not release their comments on whether or not the experiment was safe to carry out.
The Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute patiently awaited the EPA’s comments and proceeded to hold off until the comments were released.
What’s the Problem?
Friends of the Earth is an environmental organization that hopes to conserve the environment through social justice endeavors and political lobbying. They have protested the project being done by the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute, claiming that it will have many drastic environmental effects that are negative.
The organization claims that the risky procedure can cause harm to the organisms inside the ocean at the testing site. They claim that sodium hydroxide is dangerous to living creatures and will be dangerous to them during the testing period.
Will it Actually be Harmful?
According to the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute, the experiment will be conducted in a way that is safe to all organisms living in the ocean at the site of the experiment.
They will heavily monitor the area throughout testing and ensure that the pH range stays at a spot that is safe for living beings.
Lots of Angry Fishermen!
Environmental organizations are not the only ones upset about the idea of this experiment. The area in which the project will take place is a high traffic area for fishermen, being responsible for generating a large amount of the fish that fishermen catch throughout their operations.
During the period that the project will occur, the fisherman won’t be able to fish in those areas and their quality of life will go down due to a lack of generated income.
Are There Any Plans to Further Postpone?
According to the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute, the project will not be postponed any further than it already has been.
They want all the conditions for the experiment to be perfect and optimal, including good weather, and more importantly, the correct vessel.
Protests Unsuccessful?
As it is, the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute’s reasoning for the original postponement was because the proper vessel was not available. The organization has defended its circumstances for the experiment, claiming that it ideally will not harm any ocean life.
Despite the protests from multiple organizations, the experiment is supposed to still be conducted in summer of 2025 in order to advance the experiment’s findings about climate change and removal of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere.
