Greedy Algae May Thwart Ocean Fertilization Efforts
Diatom Ice This photo shows the ship on which researchers traveled while collecting plankton samples in Antarctica. Layers of brown ice, like those in this photo, often contain diatoms. Image courtesy Georgia Institute of Technology Another study shows iron fertilization may not be a great solution to climate change. One idea for removing excess carbon dioxide from the Earth's atmosphere may not work as well as advertised, according to a new study. The problem arises from extra-greedy diatoms, a type of algae with structured silica bodies. In the past few years, some researchers and enthusiasts have proposed dumping iron into the ocean as a strategy for mitigating climate change. Last fall, a California businessman even did a little of his own ocean fertilization, drawing condemnation from legal experts. The idea is that the iron acts as a fertilizer, encouraging the growth of photosynthetic plankton that, like land plants, absorb carbon dioxide. When the...