Zooplankton Carbon Sequestration via Rapid Sinking Particulate Matter
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for carbon dioxide sequestration, such as geological storage and ocean fertilization, face limitations in capacity, duration, expense, and environmental impact, necessitating a more effective approach to promote the flux of organic matter from surface waters to the deep ocean for long-term carbon sequestration.
Innovation Solution
Introducing organisms of higher trophic levels (OHTL) like planktivorous fish and carnivorous fish into specific ocean areas to produce rapidly sinking and refractory particulate matter, enhancing carbon sequestration by optimizing their diet and habitat conditions to increase the production of carbon-sinking particulate matter.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If iron chelate fertilizer is applied to the ocean surface to promote phytoplankton growth, then carbon dioxide uptake is enhanced, but the capacity and duration of sequestration are limited and environmental outcomes are uncertain
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces mesozooplankton and macrozooplankton as intermediary organisms that consume phytoplankton and produce rapidly sinking particulate organic carbon. These intermediaries transform the slow-sinking phytoplankton biomass into fast-sinking fecal pellets and carcasses, thereby enhancing the efficiency and reliability of carbon transport to the deep ocean while avoiding direct chemical fertilization impacts.
2Quantity of substance
If organic matter is allowed to sink naturally from surface waters to the deep ocean, then carbon sequestration occurs, but the rate and efficiency of flux are insufficient for effective climate mitigation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the physical parameters of particulate organic carbon by introducing zooplankton that produce fecal pellets with significantly higher sinking velocities (up to 1000 meters per day) compared to natural phytoplankton sinking rates. This parameter change in sinking speed dramatically increases the flux of carbon to the deep ocean, enabling effective climate mitigation timescales.
3Quantity of substance
If natural carbon sinks are enhanced through traditional methods, then some carbon sequestration is achieved, but the cost of industrial separation, capture, compression, and storage is prohibitively expensive
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs self-service by utilizing naturally occurring zooplankton populations and their existing feeding and waste production processes to drive carbon sequestration. The system leverages natural biological mechanisms rather than requiring expensive industrial infrastructure for carbon capture, compression, and storage, making the process economically viable while achieving significant carbon flux enhancement.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This method significantly increases carbon sequestration efficiency, with potential increases ranging from 50% to 5000% over existing levels, by promoting the rapid sinking and long-term burial of carbon-rich particulate matter in deep ocean sediments, thereby mitigating climate change.
Implementation Method 1
produce enough rapidly sinking and refractory particulate matter (PM) to sequester carbon dioxide
Implementation Method 2
Carbon that reaches the intermediate and deep ocean is entrained in water masses that have longer flow pathways back to the surface
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
AI summary
The present invention provides a method of sequestering carbon dioxide in aqueous environments. In a first step, an area is assessed to determine whether the area is capable of supporting the addition of organisms of higher trophic level (OHTL). Next, OHTL are added to the area in order to produce enough rapidly sinking and refractory particulate matter (PM) to sequester carbon dioxide above the level of carbon dioxide sequestration that exists before the addition of OHTL. Preferably, the PM produced by the OHTL sinks at rates significantly greater than and/or is significantly less biodegradable than that produced by other components of the biological carbon pump. Finally, this increase in the level of carbon dioxide sequestration is quantified. The method of the present invention may also include the step of reporting the quantified increase in the level of carbon dioxide sequestration.