Ocean CDR Has a Nutrient Problem
A new study throws cold water on some of the rosier projections for biological ocean carbon removal. The core finding: carbon and phosphorus have different residence times in the ocean, and failing to account for this nutrient cycling mismatch could lead to serious overestimates of how much CO₂ actually stays sequestered. The Disconnect Here’s the simplified version: ocean iron fertilization (OIF) works by adding iron to surface waters to stimulate phytoplankton growth. The phytoplankton absorb CO₂, die, and sink — theoretically carrying that carbon to the deep ocean for long-term storage. ...