The optimistic scientist...
'Iron is a key element and iron limitation is a very serious matter. I think it's causing lots of marine life to go into decline, including krill that feed on phytoplankton that in turn act as food for baleen whales. To revive this whole system you need to add iron to build up the phytoplankton populations and allow the excess phytoplankton blooms to sink.
'I am absolutely convinced that this technique will work. In our recent experiment we've shown that phytoplankton blooms do sink into the deep ocean, locking the carbon away. But I think this needs to be done globally by an international agency, not just one company working alone.'
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Victor Smetacek, oceanography expert, Alfred Wegener Institute, Germany.
Image: Alfred Wegener Institute, Germany |
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