Geoengineering the seas could be catastrophic for marine life

Efforts to boost the ocean’s carbon-storing capacity by making seawater more alkaline could wreak havoc on the marine food web, researchers have warned.

Ocean alkalinity enhancement is a proposed method of removing excess carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. It involves adding alkaline substances, such as basalt or calcium oxide, to ocean water to increase its pH. This helps to convert dissolved CO2 in seawater into carbonates and bicarbonates, unlocking capacity for the oceans to draw down further …